Gazidis - Wembley win huge step for club

Ivan Gazidis says winning the FA Cup was a “great day” for Arsenal - but he is already plotting future success.

Aaron Ramsey’s extra-time winner secured a remarkable comeback at Wembley Stadium as the Gunners rallied after finding themselves two goals down to Hull City in the early stages.

Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny brought Arsenal level during a dramatic encounter and Gazidis was delighted with the strength of character shown by the team.

“I think we went through all the range of emotions,” Gazidis told Arsenal Player. “We've probably lived 1,000 lives and I can tell you that to come through that with the strength of character and discipline the players showed was really encouraging.

"We have a good platform to build on - today's a great day for us to celebrate and we should do that as the Arsenal family.

“But tomorrow we start work again and we've got to use this to progress the club, to take it forward. This was a very big step, to have the players understand what it takes to come through that kind of adversity, to get over the line whatever it took is a big step and now we need to take the next step.

“It was very big. It really colours the season. You come out and think we were seven points away from winning the double and that gives you encouragement to move forward and make the improvements we have to make. We know we're still a work in progress but this is a big step, a big platform and we can build on this, and we will.”

Arsenal’s 11th FA Cup final win was the fifth Arsene Wenger has presided over. No manager has lifted the trophy more in the modern era and Gazidis is especially pleased for the boss.

“I thought it was a great day for Arsene,” Gazidis said. “He's been through a lot and you can see that he lives this club - you can see how much he loves it and how much it means to him.

"To see him soaking wet and getting thrown up in the air - he was probably a bit nervous about that - but it was fantastic, it was really great.”