Arsenal overwhelm Aston Villa to retain FA Cup

The FA Cup continues to smile on Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger's side retained the FA Cup in resounding style on Saturday, thrashing Aston Villa 4-0 at Wembley Stadium to add a record 12th title to their trophy cabinet.

Here's what you need to know:

• In what was clearly a reward for his hat-trick on the final day of the Premier League season, Theo Walcott got the nod over Olivier Giroud.
• After winning his fitness race, Shay Given started between the posts for Villa, 17 years after he featured for Newcastle United in the FA Cup Final against Wenger's side.
• Arsenal were appearing in their record 19th FA Cup Final, surpassing the mark of 18 they previously shared with Manchester United.
• Prince William was in attendance. He's a self-admitted Villa supporter because he wanted to be different from all his loyal subjects friends.

• At the other end of the social spectrum was an Arsenal supporter, going by the name Bully Arsenal, who showed up at Wembley with some glorious artwork across his chest.

• As has been the case for many previous editions, the fixture was brought to you by the letter "A."

First Half

• A yellow card was issued before either side registered a decent opportunity, as Tom Cleverley was booked in the 14th minute for clipping Nacho Monreal's heels.
• Only seconds later, Arsenal finally generated the match's first clear-cut chance. Alexis Sanchez chipped the ball into the middle and Laurent Koscielny powered a shot towards the top left that forced Given to readjust and make a diving save.
• The pressure continued in the 17th minute, when Hector Bellerin fired a low ball to the near post that a sliding Aaron Ramsey could only guide into the side netting.
• Minutes later, Arsenal produced yet another scoring opportunity. Ron Vlaar failed to clear the ball using his head, allowing Ramsey to blast a blunder of a shot over the bar.
• Arsenal refused to let up as the half wore on, and the 24th minute saw Santi Cazorla release Mesut Ozil, who found Walcott in the middle with a low ball. However, Walcott's side-footed shot was blocked by a last-ditch slide from Kieran Richardson.
• A close-up of Jack Grealish's legs revealed that he took the pitch without shin pads. Perhaps he was paying tribute to Glenn Hoddle.

• Arsenal 1, Aston Villa 0: Arsenal were finally rewarded for their pressure in the 40th minute, when Walcott repaid Wenger's faith with a smashing finish that Given could do nothing about.

Second Half

• Arsenal 2, Aston Villa 0: One of the greatest FA Cup Final goals in recent memory took place in the 52nd minute, when Sanchez dropped a shoulder to cut inside, glanced up, and unleashed a 30-yard rocket that swerved through the air before chipping the underside of the bar.

• It looked as though Sanchez had scored again in the 56th minute, when he headed a cross from Ramsey into an empty net. It wasn't to be, however, as the goal was correctly ruled out for offside.
• Moments later, Arsenal came close to scoring a third again. Cazorla deployed some fancy footwork to make space on the right but saw his subsequent shot parried by Given.
• Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 0: Some shambolic defending from Christian Benteke allowed the gigantic Per Mertesacker to casually plant a header into the top-left corner. Defending Mertesacker on set pieces is obviously tough, but Benteke didn't even try.

• An injured-looking Richardson was replaced by Leandro Bacuna in the 68th minute.
• Sanchez vs. Sanchez: The 72nd minute of the match comically saw Villa's Carlos Sanchez launch an indecisive tackle on Arsenal's Sanchez in the center circle.
• Giroud finally entered the game in the 77th minute, replacing Walcott, who had just blasted a shot high and wide.
• A pair of penalty claims emerged in the final moments. First, the speedy Gabriel Agbonlahor was brought down by Francis Coquelin in Arsenal's box. Bellerin was then brought down by Grealish in Villa's box. However, referee Jon Moss refused to award a penalty to either side.
• Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 0: Because three goals clearly weren't enough, Arsenal delivered one final blow to Tim Sherwood's side in the 93rd minute, when Giroud, who was arguably in an offside position, flicked a low ball from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into the bottom-right corner.

• The final whistle marked Wenger's sixth FA Cup triumph, nudging him ahead of Blackburn Rovers' Thomas Mitchell and United's Sir Alex Ferguson - and coincidentally drawing him level with Villa Park icon George Ramsay.
• Of course, the result triggered some positive words from one of Arsenal's most famous supporters, Piers Morgan ...

• ... and some euphoric scenes from the club's goal-scorers.