August 1st 2020 was a significant day in the history of Arsenal Football Club, as they beat rivals Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
At the end of Mikel Arteta’s first season, Arsenal were set to finish without European football for the first time in 20 years after coming eighth, but the FA Cup provided one last chance at salvation after a dismal season.
Arsenal produced a superb performance to beat Manchester City in the semi-final, with star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring a brace, and the attacker was on fire heading into the final at Wembley.
This was the first FA Cup final to be played in an empty stadium after lockdown, but it was still a significant one. Both Arteta and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard were aiming to win their first major trophies as managers, having lifted the cup as players and captains.
Christian Pulisic scored to give Chelsea an early lead, but it was Aubameyang who stepped up again, as he scored another brace to win Arsenal the trophy, and four years on, he has now reminisced about one of the greatest days in his career.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remembers Arsenal FA Cup triumph on anniversary
On the four-year anniversary of Arsenal’s last major trophy, the official X account posted the highlights of the memorable day, and Aubameyang responded.
“4y (years) already,” he posted.
Aubameyang also posted about the triumph, which saw him lift the trophy as club captain, etching himself into Arsenal history.
Aubameyang carried Arsenal that day, winning a penalty in the first half after being brought down by Cesar Azpilicueta, before scoring a deft chip after cutting inside onto his weaker left foot after a pass from Nicolas Pepe, and he signed a new contract to end speculation over his future a month later.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wrote himself into Arsenal history in FA Cup final
Aubameyang suffered a dramatic drop in form the following season after the FA Cup final, and an eventual fallout with Arteta saw him stripped of the captaincy and eventually released.
The striker did himself no favours with Arsenal fans by joining Chelsea, and his legacy, for now, was tarnished by his final year at the club.
However, it is important to remember just how good Aubameyang was in a disastrous team. Arsenal were at one of their lowest points, and he produced two world-class performances to carry the Gunners to their 14th FA Cup.
Aubameyang scored 29 goals in 44 games across all competitions that season, in a campaign which saw Arteta replace Unai Emery and the team fail to perform consistently, and as more time goes on since his controversial exit, his contributions may be remembered more fondly.
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