LONDON • If it does transpire that Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea on Saturday was manager Arsene Wenger's final game in charge, it would have been a memorable way to sign off.
The Frenchman's brow has been constantly furrowed this season with intense speculation about his future overshadowing a campaign that saw the Gunners fail to finish in the top four for the first time since he took charge in 1996.
But amid a Cup final that would be remembered for the wrong reasons, from Chelsea initially forgetting to wear black armbands for the Manchester attack victims, to Victor Moses throwing his armband away after being sent off, Wenger was all smiles at the final whistle.
The 67-year-old joined the ecstatic celebrations on the Wembley pitch where Aaron Ramsey's late header ensured Arsenal have now won three of the last four FA Cups.
Alexis Sanchez had scored the opening goal as early as the fourth minute for the Gunners, while Diego Costa equalised just three minutes before Ramsey's goal.
Yet back in the bowels of the stadium, where questions quickly turned to Wenger's future, he kept his cards close to his chest, refusing to offer any real clues as to whether the victory represented a glorious farewell or the springboard for future success under his command.
"This doesn't influence anything," record seven-time FA Cup winner Wenger told reporters.
"It would be a bit ridiculous that 20 years depends on one game and that the future of the club depends on one game.
"Overall I just want to do well for this club and apart from that it's down to the board members to decide whether I'm the right man to take this club further. Let's enjoy the win tonight and not worry about the future."
He added that more light would be shed on his situation after the board meets on Tuesday, but there seems little doubt Wenger is still held in high regard by his players.
On his manager's future, Ramsey said: "Of course I want him to stay at the club. He deserves this.
"We changed the formation and had a lot of success. Fair play to him, he changed the system. Hopefully, he'll be here next season."
Premier League champions Chelsea courted controversy by not sporting black armbands when the match started with a minute's silence in honour of the victims of last Monday's Manchester Arena attack.
The team returned with armbands in the second half, stating they had simply forgotten about it, but not before sparking a backlash on social media.
"It has not been lost on fans around the world that Chelsea players, unlike Arsenal, are not wearing black armbands," sports presenter Sean Cardovillis tweeted shortly after kick-off.
Chelsea wing-back Moses stoked the fires when he was caught on camera discarding his armband in frustration after becoming the fifth player to be sent off in an FA Cup final.
An ecstatic Wenger paid tribute to his players' resilience and spirit. His side had also been less fancied in the semi-finals against Manchester City, which they also went on to win 2-1.
"You cannot get two tougher opponents, but we produced two outstanding performances," the Arsenal manager said.
"That is what makes me particularly proud, because no one gave us a chance at Wembley and we responded with attitude and class.
"We had an outstanding performance from the first minute onwards. This team have suffered, but they've united and responded. They showed strength and unity and played spectacular football."
REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN
