Aaron Ramsey scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final for the second time in four seasons as Arsenal edged out Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.
The Welshman headed home from an Olivier Giroud cross with 11 minutes left to play, shortly after Diego Costa gave the 10-man opposition a lift with his leveller.
Alexis Sanchez had earlier opened the scoring for the Gunners in controversial circumstances, scoring his seventh goal at the national stadium, and in the end the sixth-placed finishers in the Premier League deservedly got themselves over the line.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup final showdown between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. We have all the ingredients for a potential classic this afternoon, as two of English football's heavyweight sides - who have experienced contrasting campaigns - compete to come out on top in the 136th edition of the famous cup competition.
The Blues head into the match on a real high, of course, having wrapped up the Premier League title in style earlier this month, seeing off a brave challenge from Tottenham Hotspur. It has not been quite as positive a campaign for the Gunners, meanwhile, as they endured more misery in the Premier League and Champions League, leaving them in need of victory at the national stadium today to salvage their season.
That is not to say that Arsenal want the win any more than their opponents, though, with Chelsea looking to make some history this evening by becoming just the third English side - alongside the Gunners and Manchester United - to win a Premier League and FA Cup double on more than one occasion. Throw in the fact that these two sides generally do not tend to get on, and we could - fingers crossed - see a thriller at Wembley Stadium in the next few hours.
Arsenal certainly boast plenty of pedigree in this competition, having won it a joint-record amount of times along with Man United. The Gunners have gone all the way twice in the past three seasons, but the Red Devils prevailed against Crystal Palace here in a dramatic final 12 months ago to move back level on 12 triumphs. A personal battle between the two heavyweight clubs, while Chelsea are not all that far behind with seven to their name.
In many ways, this is very much a pivotal match for long-serving boss Arsene Wenger. After more than two decades at the helm, the Frenchman's spell in North London could well be coming to an end, having yet to formally agree a new deal. Depending on which reports you believe, Wenger has been offered either a one-year deal or two, which will also see a director of football appointed to oversee certain aspects of their transfer dealings.
Pivotal it may be, yet win or lose it is very difficult to read Wenger right now. The Frenchman gave an interesting interview to BBC Sport in the build-up to the game, which you can read in full here, hitting out at the 'disgraceful' criticism aimed in his direction in recent months. Victory could well see him bow out on what would be a high - a trophy is a trophy, after all - while defeat may also force him to walk.
This is Arsene Wenger we are talking about, however, and it would still be a major surprise - even with the protests growing and growing earlier in the season - to see him quit without saying a proper goodbye. There is no denying that it has been, up to this point, a truly miserable campaign for the North London outfit, crashing out of the Champions League at the first knockout-stage hurdle for a seventh year running and failing to compete whatsoever at the top end of the Premier League.
Forget challenging for the title - for the first time in 21 years Arsenal failed to even make the top four, pulling away the safety net that Wenger has often been able to fall back on. For all the arguments of the Gunners accumulating more points this season than last, yet finishing four places worse off, it has to be remembered that fourth spot was the absolute bare minimum required this term. Wenger has badly failed in 2016-17 - many will argue that has been the case for far too long now.
Yet, rather inevitably, Arsenal have ended the season on a high. If Wenger deserves credit for one thing it is his ability to build up expectation levels heading into a new season; a knack of picking up results at the end of one season to leave supporters dreaming of success in the next. For many the groundhog-day scenario is simply too much to take, knowing that - as ever - their side will not compete at the top next season and will likely rely on the FA Cup once again.
The improved form to see out the season is purely down to Wenger's shock decision to switch formation, learning from today's opponents Chelsea. Since reverting to a three-man backline, the Gunners have won eight of their last nine in all competition - the only defeat coming in a surrender to Tottenham Hotspur - and have looked much more solid at the back. April 10 was the day Wenger ended 20 years of sticking with a back four; the day he could potentially have extended his career here by another year or two.
Arsene Wenger has constantly batted aside questions regarding his future since the turn of the year, which he recently admitted could well have had an impact on his players. The situation has become rather comical at this point, with the Frenchman himself seemingly unsure whether this will be his last game or not. Depending on which way the match swings, we may have a clearer picture come the full-time whistle.
Since going with three at the back, or five when in defensive transitions, Arsenal have kept four clean sheets. From the side that looked toothless against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace - the latter, a 3-0 loss at Selhurst Park, arguably the nadir of this terrible campaign thus far - the Gunners all of a sudden look sharper and have far more of a balance about them. Wenger's forced tinkering has given renewed hope that they could just end the season with another trophy.
The irony to all this is that the final nail in Wenger's coffin could be hammered in by Antonio Conte, the man whose formation he was inspired by. It is no coincidence that the Frenchman went with a three-man backline - 17 of the 20 sides in the division have, at some point, started with that system. Some have even been brave enough to try it against the Blues, experiencing mixed results. Everton, for example, got completely blow away; Spurs, on the other hand, picked up all three points in the league.
This is a trophy that has saved Wenger in the past, with victory over Hull City in the 2014 final ending their nine-year wait for silverware, followed by victory over Aston Villa in a more resounding manner 12 months later. It leaves Wenger level with George Ramsey as the competition's most-successful ever manager, but he can move outright on seven triumphs by guiding his side to victory at Wembley Stadium today. If that proves to be the case, he will also have his 10th major honour in English football.
Arsenal are competing in a record 20th FA Cup final today, winning each of their last five at this stage. It is a hugely impressive record on Wenger's behalf, bettering that of any other side during his time on these shores, but will it be enough to save his job? Unless the Gunners were stuffed this evening, which surely will not be the case, it is highly unlikely that the Frenchman will be sacked. Walking away is still an option, though, as he is yet to sign the new deal on the table.
TEAM NEWS!
ARSENAL XI: Ospina; Holding, Mertesacker, Monreal; Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Ozil, Sanchez; Welbeck
CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard
There was a big debate over whether Wenger would stick with his new three-man backline this evening, very much fighting fire with fire by doing so, and he does exactly that. The big news is that Per Mertesacker starts his first game in 13 months, taking his place in a system that he has never previously played in. It has all the hallmarks for a complete disaster, with the German - lacking any sort of match fitness - directly against Diego Costa.
The other major talking point is that David Ospina starts in goal, having spent the past two months either out injured or watching on from the bench. Wenger hinted earlier in the week that he would stick with Petr Cech, having also used the experienced stopper in the semi-final win over Manchester City, but reports emerged on Friday suggesting that he had made a late U-turn. It is a huge, huge call from Wenger, with Ospina playing his last game for the club before leaving for Fenerbahce.
Laurent Koscielny lost his appeal against the red card shown to him against Everton last weekend, while Gabriel Mustafi is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the same game. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course, but Wenger will be ruing the fact he did not rest certain members of his squad for a match that turned out to be meaningless. Shkodran Mustafi is the other defensive absentee due to concussion.
That leaves Wenger with little choice but to turn to Mertesacker - an experienced defender, granted, but one without a start in over a year and without any sort of match practice in recent weeks. Rob Holding, signed for pennies in comparison to others, is fielded to the right of him and Hector Monreal is used as another makeshift defender. Wing-back looks a little stronger, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning from a few weeks out and Hector Bellerin also fully fit.
Alexis Sanchez is another who, in traditional Arsenal style, picked up an injury at a costly time and was also considered a minor doubt for today's huge match. The Chilean, who has 29 goals to his name this season - two of them coming in the FA Cup - is deemed fit enough to start, however, linking up alongside Mesut Ozil in attack. Danny Welbeck is the man given the nod due to his energetic style, preferred to a no-doubt disappointed Olivier Giroud.
In terms of the Blues, manager Antonio Conte also had a couple of big calls to make this evening, albeit without his hand being forced by suspension and injury issues. Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic and Pedro are all brought back into the side from the 5-1 thrashing of Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season. Cahill was the obvious one, replacing John Terry in the three-man backline alongside David Luiz and the ever-reliable Cesar Azpilicueta.
Pedro's inclusion is a little more surprising, though, as Willian - the man he comes in for - previously starting each of Chelsea's games during their run to the final. Matic, too, was also expected to start the game on the bench, with Cesc Fabregas impressing alongside N'Golo Kante in recent weeks and providing some attacking flair from deep. The Spaniard misses out against his former club from the off, but will surely be used at some point as the match transpires.
No real surprises elsewhere, meanwhile, as Thibaut Courtois ousted Asmir Begovic from the quarter-finals on, while Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso are fit and firing down the flanks. Costa, Eden Hazard and Pedro link up in attack, with the former of the trio possibly playing his last game in Chelsea colours today. Talk of a switch to the Far East has quietened down of late, but Atletico Madrid are still understood to be interested in bringing back one of their title-winning heroes of the past.
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBS: Cech, Elneny, Coquelin, Iwobi, Lucas, Walcott, Giroud
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Terry, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi
Cech relegated to the bench, then, in what is the biggest selection decision when looking at the team sheet. Giroud is another who will be disappointed to miss out today, finding himself looking on from the bench due to the selection of Welbeck up top, while Theo Walcott could potentially make an impact from the bench if needed. Fabregas and Willian both miss out for Chelsea, meanwhile, and Michy Batshuayi has proved of late that he can have a say on any game.
Three changes made by Antonio Conte, then, as he opts for Pedro and Nemanja Matic over Willian and Cesc Fabregas, while Gary Cahill is inevitably preferred to John Terry in the backline. Arsene Wenger makes the biggest call of all, though, turning to David Ospina - likely on his way out after today's game - in place of the more experienced Petr Cech, and Danny Welbeck is given the nod over Olivier Giroud in attack.
As touched upon a little earlier, Arsenal boast impressive pedigree in the FA Cup. They have lost just one of their last 22 in this competition, winning 19 of those games either in normal time or after extra time and penalties, and are also unbeaten in their last seven visits to Wembley Stadium. In fact, not since that shock loss to Birmingham City in the 2011 League Cup have they left here feeling disappointed. Victory over Man City here last time out was truly massive for the Gunners, adding to wins over non-league Lincoln City and Sutton United in the two rounds prior.
DID YOU KNOW? Not since 2009 have two top-six sides faced off in the FA Cup final, while six of the last seven meetings at this stage have featured a bottom-half team. This is also just the second final in 35 years to feature two London clubs, the other being in 2002 when the roles were reversed and Arsenal beat Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to complete the first part of a league and cup double.
Chelsea, seven-time winners of the competition, are competing in their 12th major final since Roman Abramovich began his success-laden tenure. Of the previous 11, they have won nine - both the defeats coming in quick succession in 2012. They have won four FA Cups during that time and pulled off the famous double once before, doing so under Carlo Ancelotti seven years ago. Conte could become the third manager to win a double in his first season in English football.
It really has been a dream season for Conte, who could end up writing his name in folklore should his side indeed win today to add to their Premier League triumph. The Blues cantered to the title in the end, picking up a total of 93 points - the second-highest tally ever, behind only their own record set a little over a decade ago. They also won more games than any other side in Prem history, surely doing enough to put themselves among the greatest ever sides assembled in the division.
Only once since climbing to the top was the pressure ever really on Chelsea, as Spurs managed to reduce the gap from 14 points to four at one stage, but their brave pursuit ended in a cruel manner away to hated rivals West Ham. The Blues then got the job done with ease, doing so with two home games to spare. September 24 is very much a pivotal day in the season when looking back - the day when Conte saw his side trailing Arsenal 3-0 at the break at the Emirates Stadium.
The Italian used the final 30 minutes of that match to test out his favoured three-at-the-back formation, which would ultimately lead to Chelsea winning the title in near record-breaking fashion. A 13-match winning run following, the first six of which went by without them conceding a single goal, culminating in a 4-2 win at Stoke City on New Year's eve to open up that 14-point gap that Spurs were never likely to fully make up. It is worth remembering that, prior to all this, Chelsea picked up one point from nine in September.
While Chelsea cantered to the title, they were not as effective from January through to the start of April, dropping points in four of their 10 matches - including arguably their worst display of the season when going down 2-0 to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United. It was at that point that Conte could have started to doubt himself, with Spurs the team now in the ascendancy, but a 4-2 win over the Lilywhites in the semi-finals of the FA Cup kick-started a fresh winning run.
The Blues ended the season with seven-successive wins in all competitions, in fact, blowing away all comers to set up what could be an historic double. As mentioned a little earlier, only seven different teams have managed it before, while it has been pulled off on 11 occasions overall since 1889. Defeat today and this will still be considered a successful campaign for the Blues; victory and it steps up a notch alongside their greatest ever. For that, Conte deserves nothing but praise.
During their seven-match winning run leading up to this game, Chelsea scored 24 and kept three clean sheets. All of a sudden they look back to their best once again; more like the side between October and January than the one from January to the start of April - effective, but certainly not unbeatable at that point, as Palace and United showed. Clean sheets actually became a problem for Courtois, who could not buy one at one point, but that appears to have now been rectified by Conte.
This is Chelsea's seventh appearance in the FA Cup final since the turn of the century, joint-most with Arsenal, winning four of the last five of those. Their last defeat at this stage came in 2002 when going down 2-0 to Arsenal in Cardiff, with many bookies backing the opposite to be true this evening. Not the easiest of games to call, granted, but the Blues have been by far and away the best team in the country over the course of the whole season.
Conte has had to fend off questions about his own future in recent weeks although, unlike opposite number Wenger, they are questions of a different kind. The uncertainty is due to his success at Stamford Bridge in his first season outside of Italian football, with Inter Milan reportedly prepared to throw big bucks his way, while Wenger is almost being shoved towards the exit by disgruntled fans. Contrasting moods, yet that could all change a couple of hours from now.
Wenger is looking to win his seventh domestic cup in English football this evening, but Conte has yet to get off the mark in that regard. Only once before has he made it to the final of a domestic cup competition, losing the 2012 Copa Italia final to Napoli when his Juventus side were seeking a double. Sound familiar? The silver lining for Conte, if he does indeed miss out today, is that he has now won four-successive league titles in club management.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Seven of the last eight FA Cup ties between these two sides have been won by Arsenal. Chelsea came out on top in the last encounter, though, winning 2-1 in the 2009 semi-final here - their only triumph over the Gunners in the last 70 years in this competition. They have been paired together 13 times in all, with Arsenal winning eight to Chelsea's five.
Following on from that previous point, Chelsea have won eight of their last 13 matches overall between these two sides. That is the more telling stat, as they have usurped the Gunners and are now very much top dogs in London - Spurs arguably second. This is, as touched upon a little earlier, just the second FA Cup final showdown between two sides from the capital in the last 35 years - the last being Arsenal's 2-0 win over today's opponents in 2002.
With kickoff at Wembley Stadium now a little under 10 minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Arsene Wenger: "It will not be my last match because whatever happens I will stay in football. Would it be a nice farewell? No, what I want is to win the next game. I love to win and I love to do well for my club. I want to win the cup for my club. It's not about me, it's about us winning the trophy and giving everything to achieve it."
Antonio Conte: "When you stay for a long time at the same team - we're talking about a great team, not a small team - we must consider [Wenger] like one of the best managers in history. He won a lot. When you stay a lot for a long time in the same team, someone can forget this. But Arsene Wenger is, for sure, a really good manager for me."
Wenger stressing that this will not be his final game in club management, regardless of the outcome of today's final. The Frenchman has stretched things out for far too long, admitting that it has perhaps had an impact on the performance of his players at times, yet we are still no nearer to knowing whether he will lead out Arsenal come their next league game in August.
Conte heaping praise on his opposite number, meanwhile, pointing out that a bad manager does not remain at one club for so long. The Italian is very much the top dog of English football at the present time, though, wining the Premier League at the first attempt - after his side finished 10th last term, remember - while also leaving them on the brink of an FA Cup success. Plenty on the line for both teams over the next 90 minutes, or potentially more!
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play and the pre-match ceremony is out of the way. We will now have a minute's silence to reflect on events that took place in Manchester earlier this week, before attention can then turn back to the matters at hand. Arsenal, seeking a record 13th triumph in the FA Cup, up against a Chelsea team looking to become just the third English team to win a league and cup double on numerous occasions.
KICKOFF! We are up and running in the 136th FA Cup final, as Arsenal take on Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. All the ingredients for a possible classic, in what is a far-from-traditional evening kickoff, so let us just hope that it lives up to all the hype!
Arsenal seeing plenty of the ball in the opening few minutes, probing away without really causing any problems. Chelsea happy to sit back, rather than really getting in their opponents' faces, but that could well change as things go on.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 CHELSEA (ALEXIS SANCHEZ)
Some cup finals pass by without a goal or any sort of talking point, with the occasion getting to players. Four minutes into the match here and we have an almighty topic of discussion already! Sanchez put the ball into the net but was flagged for offside. Arsenal players were furious and, following discussions between ref and linesman, the goal was indeed awarded.
The officials got the decision right in the end - the goal should have stood. Sanchez chested the ball into the box and ran on to it, tucking past Courtois for his seventh goal here in six appearances. The debate was whether Ramsey, alongside Sanchez, interfered with play, but he backed away from the ball before his teammate could slot it away. Great start for the Gunners!
YELLOW CARD! Ramsey becomes the first player to be cautioned for pulling back on his opponent. Chelsea, behind in the FA Cup for the first time this season, looking very shaky at the moment as Courtois almost messes up.
Arsenal looking very good in these opening 12 minutes. Conte barking out instructions, presumably telling his players to stop sitting back. Spurs used these tactics and won in January; Everton, among others, were thrashed. It is working a treat for the Gunners at the moment.
SHOT! Sanchez simply loves this venue, doesn't he? Seven in six here for him now, and he comes close to another with the cleanest strike of the ball you will see from range. A little too clean in the end, sending it over the bar.
BLOCK! They have barely been on the ball in the final third all evening, yet Chelsea could so easily have drawn themselves level. Costa pounces on a loose ball in the box and sees his goal-bound shot blocked by Monreal in front of goal.
OFF THE LINE! What a game! Ozil was slipped through and, with the angle against him, he did all he could by lofting the ball over Courtois. Cahill was in the right place to clear off the line - what a big moment that could be.
OFF THE POST! This is pretty incredible. Arsenal are on fire at the moment and will be kicking themselves not to have strengthened their lead. Welbeck meets the corner with his head, sending it back off the post, and Ramsey could not adjust as he chested against the same post from an angle.
Well the good news for Chelsea fans is that they are only one goal down at this point. A Costa shot aside, blocked aside by Monreal, they have been completely dominated. First quarter of this match has completely flown by!
It is not just the Gunners' attacking players who are up for this one - the defenders are stepping up to the plate on the rare occasions they are called upon. Costa denied by the long legs of Mertesacker when getting himself on the ball.
The last few minutes have been a little quieter, to the delight of Conte. For Chelsea it might just be a case of seeing through the first half, because they will not be as sloppy as this after 15 minutes in the same changing room as the Italian.
Just the odd sign that Chelsea are starting to grow into this game now. A cross into the box is dealt with by the Gunners, allowing Welbeck to counter. Kante brought him down but avoided a booking from Anthony Taylor.
SAVE! A first save of the afternoon made by Ospina, who has been left in some pain. A simple ball around the back, which Bellerin was unable to deal with, allowing Costa to get a shot on target. Ospina saves and takes a trailing boot to his face.
OFF THE LINE! No doubt that we now have a more balanced game on our hands. Chelsea could well have been level, in fact, because that was half a chance for Costa on the end of a Pedro pass from deep. From the next attack, though, Welbeck squeezed the ball past Courtois but Cahill was again on the line!
SAVE! Arsenal look so impressive when getting bodies forward. Welbeck has more than justified his inclusion so far, running down the left flank and earning a free kick once tripped by Azpilicueta. The set piece is cleared as far as Xhaka, whose shot from range is pushed aside by Courtois.
Chelsea can have no complaints if things remain this way heading into the break. The Gunners will kick themselves if they were to concede in the next 10 minutes following what has been a dominant showing from them so far.
Too easy for Arsenal at times, as Sanchez again gets on the end of another simple ball around the back. He managed to cut inside and saw his shot blocked by Cahill, with Welbeck unable to make himself available for the pass.
CHANCE! A patient passage of Chelsea play ends with Pedro being anything but patient. Rather than taking his time he put his foot through the ball from close range, sending the ball high over Ospina's crossbar.
An error from Ospina, as he fails to collect a simple cross at his near post. No danger, however, as there was no play in Blue close enough to pounce. Three minutes of the half to play and the Prem champs desperately looking to wrestle some control.
Things have gone a little quieter over the last 10 minutes, with Pedro's poor shot the closest either side has come to adding the game's second goal. Hazard appeared to be chopped down by Ozil, but Anthony Taylor felt the ball was won.
Arsenal's players left panicking as they struggle to clear the ball in and around their own area. Pedro was then clipped by Monreal and the Blues have a free kick 20 yards from goal, which Alonso is currently stood over.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 CHELSEA
Alonso's free kick, much like Chelsea's first-half display, was very disappointing as he sent it high over the bar. A very bright opening 45 minutes as far as Arsenal are concerned, justifiably going into the break a goal to the good thanks to an Alexis Sanchez strike. Plenty of excitement at Wembley Stadium so far!
Chelsea struggled to truly get going in the first half, being pegged back at times and justifiably finding themselves behind at the break to an Alexis Sanchez strike. If Arsenal's lead was deserved, the manner of it was more debatable, as Sanchez ran on to his own chested assist - which appeared to touch his hand - and slotted past Thibaut Courtois with the outside of his boot. The strike was initially ruled out, with Aaron Ramsey also clearly offside but not interfering with play, although after some discussions with his fellow official Anthony Taylor awarded the goal.
Seven goals in six appearances at Wembley Stadium for Sanchez was nearly added to after smashing the ball over the bar from range, shortly before Mesut Ozil's clipped shot over Courtois - via a touch off the sliding David Luiz - had to be helped off the line by Gary Cahill. Cahill was required in similar circumstances later in the half, this time to deny Danny Welbeck after his shot was saved but rebounded back towards goal, where the stand-in skipper was in the right place.
It was a dominant first-half display from Arsenal, replicating their opponents' three-man backline after much success in the closing weeks of the season, and their only complaint heading into the break was that they did not have a second. Welbeck, tirelessly running the channels after being given the nod over Olivier Giroud, headed a corner against the post and Ramsey chested against the same part of the woodwork from the follow-up.
Granit Xhaka also tested Courtois with a long-range strike from a half-cleared free kick into the box, while David Ospina - a surprise inclusion in goal - had to keep out a Diego Costa attempt from close range, and Pedro fired high from the Blues' only other real opening of the half. Wenger will almost certainly keep things the same for the second period, but will Conte be tempted into making a change?
ARSENAL SUBS: Cech, Elneny, Coquelin, Iwobi, Lucas, Walcott, Giroud
CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Zouma, Ake, Terry, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi
RESTART! We are back under way at Wembley Stadium, where neither manager has opted to make an alteration at the break. A little surprising in Conte's case, but expect that to change in 10 minutes or so if things do not pan out differently.
Chelsea the brighter of the two teams in the opening stages of the second half. Pedro's initial shot was well blocked by Mertesacker, who is having a good game, and his second bite of the cherry came to little.
SAVE! As expected, the Blues looking far better after a real poor first-half showing at Wembley Stadium. Pedro again involved, laying it off for Kante to blast down the middle. Rather simple save for Ospina in the end.
SAVE! Mertesacker has been superb this evening, as has Ospina whenever he has been called upon. Moses was played through and drove the ball towards the bottom corner, but Ospina got a big hand to it. Costa then wrong penalised in the box.
YELLOW CARD! Second caution of the contest, again shown to an Arsenal player. Holding barges over Costa near the box and enters Anthony Taylor's book. Hazard clips it in and Mertesacker - who else? - is there to head behind.
Arsenal counter but Bellerin sends a poor cross into the box, with Courtois able to collect and spring a break for his side. End-to-end stuff all of a sudden, as Chelsea all of a sudden begin to look more like their title-winning selves.
YELLOW CARD! Good communication from Arsenal's defensive duo, as Mertesacker leaves Azpilicueta's dangerous cross for Holding to head over for a corner. The hour mark approaching at Wembley Stadium - which manager will blink first? Moses booked for hauling down Welbeck.
SHOT! Not far wide at all from Pedro, who was picked out in acres of space by Moses around 20 yards from goal. Ball was sent wide of Ospina's goal in the end, as Kante is shown yellow for a tackle on Ramsey.
CHELSEA SUB! The change that many expected Conte to make, turning to former Arsenal player Fabregas in place of Matic. The Spaniard made over 300 appearances for the Gunners but is now very much a Blues player.
SAVE! Arsenal back to looking the brighter side now, as the ball is played through to spare man Bellerin. The wing-back's shot was hit well and on target, but Courtois did very well to keep it out down to his right.
A couple of wayward attempts from the Blues in what is a very open second half. Willian has been sent to warm up and seems like the obvious next choice for Conte to turn to, likely in place of Pedro. That said, Hazard has not done a great deal.
RED CARD! Anthony Taylor has made another massive call. Moses went down in the box, with Oxlade-Chamberlain the closest player to him, but was rightly shown a yellow for diving. Is that a game-changing moment?
Chelsea were just about the team in the ascendancy, with Willian about to be brought on, but that has all changed. Arsenal going in search of a killer second, but Oxlade-Chamberlain sent a curler over the bar rather than picking out a teammate.
CHELSEA SUB! Pedro is the player to make way for Willian, with less than 20 minutes left to play at Wembley. It has been a griping cup final, but as things stand Arsenal are on the brink of a record 13th triumph.
Wenger still yet to turn to his bench, happy with what he is seeing from his 11 starters. If it does go to extra time then the teams will have an additional sub available to make, which will be particularly handy for Chelsea.
Chelsea no closer to breaching Ospina's goal since going a man down, understandably. As long as there is one goal in this match it is not over, though, setting up a potentially tense finale in the English capital.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 CHELSEA (DIEGO COSTA)
Right on cue, Arsenal are made to pay for failing to make much of their dominance count. Willian chipped the ball into the box and Costa was able to bring it under control, setting himself and then placing the ball out of Ospina's reach.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-1 CHELSEA (AARON RAMSEY)
Absolutely incredible! After working hard to somehow get themselves level, despite the man disadvantage, Chelsea have thrown the game away just a couple of minutes later. Giroud sent a cross into the box and Ramsey was the man most advanced, nodding it past Courtois.
YELLOW CARD! Xhaka cautioned for a foul, but further punishment nearly followed. Luiz got on the end of the free kick, sending his header narrowly wide of the target. Chelsea refusing to give up at Wembley!
YELLOW CARD! Francis Coquelin is on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to help see out the closing stages. His first contribution, less than a minute after being introduced, is to give away a free kick and receive a yellow card.
CLOSE! Bellerin charges forward, clearly with plenty more energy still left in him, but drags wide of goal with his shot at the end of it. Arsenal not making the same mistake as before, instead attacking rather than sitting back.
SAVE! We are into the final two minutes of normal time at Wembley Stadium, where Arsenal just need to see things through. They are trying their best to throw it away - Costa is through but his shot is superbly kept out by Ospina. What a match!
OFF THE POST! Ozil has squandered a great chance to seal things. He initially did well to get the beating of his man, cutting inside but instead picking out the post from eight yards. Batshuayi is on for Costa.
Gripping right to the end. Chelsea will not give up, knowing that they require just one chance to take this to extra time. Arsenal now just two minutes of added time away from their record 13th FA Cup triumph - enough to salvage their season.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 CHELSEA
Referee Anthony Taylor blows his whistle for full time - what a superb game. For the neutral, at least, because those Chelsea fans in attendance will be hugely disappointing, seeing their side come so close to history but falling short at the last. Arsenal were the better side overall and deserved winners, albeit doing it the hard way after being pegged back by their 10-man opponents.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Wembley Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction will follow over the next 30 minutes or so. If you are still after some more football, why not stick around for updates of the Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Alaves? That can be found here. Enjoy!
