Hull City score twice early on, before excellent Cazorla free-kick reduces the deficit.
A magnificent goal from Santi Cazorla has given Arsenal hope of ending their nine-year trophy drought.
Nevertheless, the Gunners are losing 2-1 at half time in the FA Cup final, after conceding two goals to Hull City, courtesy of James Chester and Curtis Davies, in the opening eight minutes at Wembley Stadium.
Less than four minutes were on the clock when Hull broke the deadlock from a crafty set piece. Right-back Ahmed Elmohamady got forward and won a corner, from which Stephen Quinn picked out Tom Huddlestone just outside the penalty area. The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder hit a volley, which Chester redirected into the bottom corner of Lukasz Fabianski’s net.
Fabianski was beaten again moments later. The Polish goalkeeper could only parry Alex Bruce’s header onto the post, allowing Davies to dispatch the rebound.
Having seen both of his central defensive partners get on the scoresheet, Bruce very nearly followed suit. However, his looping header was cleared off the line by Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal were in trouble and they needed some inspiration. Cazorla provided it – dispatching a stunning 25-yard free-kick into the top corner of Allan McGregor’s goal, via the the Scot’s fingertips and then the underside of the crossbar.
Cazorla’s goal, which came after 17 minutes, gave he and his Arsenal teammates a huge lift.
The Gunners quickly began to boss the game and they came close to an equaliser midway through the half when Lukas Podolski crossed low for Mesut Ozil, who missed the ball.
Arsene Wenger’s side threatened again just before the half-hour mark, but Chester provided a vital block to deny Olivier Giroud.
At the other end, Huddlestone fizzed a half-volley just wide from long range, reminding Arsenal of Hull’s attacking potential following a sustained period of Gunners dominance.
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