Photos: Wembley dazzles, celebrations galore as Arsenal lift record 12th FA Cup

[caption id=“attachment_2271634” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Arsenal retained the FA Cup in majestic style as their 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa in Saturday’s final made history for the Gunners and their manager Arsene Wenger. Getty (With inputs from AFP)[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271636” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] After dominating most of the first half, it was Theo Walcott who opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 40th minute as he thumped in a volley from left to beat Shay Given on the near post. Getty[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271638” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Arsenal were all over Aston Villa in the first half and they continued the momentum in the second. Alexis Sanchez doubled the lead five minutes into the half as he unleashed a stunner from 25 yards that flashed over the flat-footed Given into the roof of the net. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271640” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] With Arsenal bossing the game, Villa players looked tired. Ten minutes later, Per Mertesacker capitalised on some lazy defending and guided in a header from the corner to make it 3-0 to the Gunners. Getty[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271644” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The result was a forgone conclusion and then Olivier Giroud rubbed salt on Villa’s wounds with a cleverly flicked goal to make it 4-0 in the 90th minute. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271646” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] The final whistle went and the Arsenal players erupted in celebrations. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271650” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] There was joy and there was sorrow. But this is what sport is all about. Arsenal players console Aston Villa’’s Jack Grealish, left, and Gabriel Agbonlahor. AP[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271652” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] It was a suitably memorable performance on a historic day which saw Arsene Wenger become the first manager in the post-War period to win the competition six times, a tally matched by only George Ramsey, who won the last of his with Villa in 1920. (With input from AFP) Getty[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271654” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla use a photographers camera as they celebrate victory. Getty[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2271656” align=“alignleft” width=“940”] There was another significant slice of history for Arsenal as they lifted the famous old trophy for the 12th time, moving them ahead of Manchester United as the most successful club in the competition. And the celebrations went on and on and on……..Getty (With inputs from AFP)[/caption]