Villa lose FA Cup final - report and pictures

Goals from Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud saw the holders lift the trophy for a record breaking 12th time.

In a match where Tim Sherwood's side were second best right from the off, Villa huffed and puffed but a lack of movement and fluidity saw them create very little in the way off chances.

The result also means Arsene Wenger has become only the second manager to win the FA Cup six times – with Villa great George Ramsey the other boss to achieve the feat.

Shay Given, Kieran Richardson and Jores Okore all overcame slight knocks to start Villa's first FA Cup Final for 15 years.

Villa chief Sherwood named Christian Benteke as a lone striker, with talented 19-year-old Jack Grealish playing just behind.

For Arsenal, Wenger sprung selection surprise in naming his starting line-up, with Walcott preferred up front to Giroud.

The Gunners started as firm favourites and they came close to breaking the deadlock in the opening stages, when Santi Carzola's mazy run forced a succession of corners.

Goals: Walcott 40, Sanchez 50, Mertesacker 62, Giroud 90.

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Okore, Vlaar, Richardson (Bacuna 68), Cleverley, Westwood (Sanchez 71), Delph, N'Zogbia (Agbonlahor 53), Benteke, Grealish.

Substitutes not used: Guzan, Baker, Sinclair, Cole.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil (Wilshere 77), Sanchez (Oxlade-Chamberlain 90), Walcott (Giroud 77).

Substitutes not used: Andersen (GK), Mackie, Yakubu.

Referee: Jonathan Moss (West Yorkshire)

After Alexis Sanchez's kick was cleared, Mesut Ozil took over corner duties with the German seeing his whipped delivery headed wide by Laurent Koscielny.

Arsenal had got there passing game going early and started dominating in the key areas, with Villa finding it difficult to get out of their own half.

And they were soon indebted to 39-year-old shot-stopper Given, with the goalkeeper pulling of a sprawling one-handed save to keep out a Koscielny header.

The momentum was now completely with Wenger's side and they should have gone ahead when Aaron Ramsey nipped in ahead of Ron Vlaar, but then fired widely over the bar.

With his side struggling to win any second balls, Grealish – who had been so composed and dominant against Liverpool in the semi-final – was being forced to drop deep to get on the ball.

But all Villa could muster was a handful of deep crosses into the Arsenal box, which goalkeeper Wojciech Szczensy comfortably dealt with.

Villa fans, in outstanding voice, were hoping they had weathered an early storm but endured more agony as the Gunners continued to press.

And only a heroic piece of defending from Kieron Richardson kept the sides level – with the left-back throwing his body in front of the ball to block a Theo Walcott strike with Given beaten.

But, with five minutes of the first half remaining, Arsenal got the goal they deserved.

Nacho Monreal's cross was headed back across goal by Sanchez and, with Villa failing to react, Walcott brilliantly fired home.

You sensed Sherwood's side needed to make a positive start to the second-half, but after Grealish was crowded out in the box, they soon found themselves two down.

Sanchez picked up the ball 25-yards from goal and fired an unstoppable strike, which dipped and swerved past Given and into the net. It was a world class strike from a world-class player.

Sherwood responded by switching Gabby Agbonlahor for Charles N'Zogbia.

But,with little movement and very little options, Villa continued to struggle and they found themselves 3-0 just after the hour mark.

Cazorla's corner was met by an isolated Per Mertesacker, who planted a header in the bottom left corner with nobody marking the post.

The goal promoted some sections of the Villa support to bid farewell to Wembley and start making the long journey back to the Midlands.

And, while their team started to see a bit more of the ball, a blocked Grealish strike from 25-yards was the best they had mustered with 15 minutes remaining.

But as the clocked ticked towards the 90-minute mark, Villa fans were back up on their feet appealing for a penalty.

After taking the ball into the box, Grealish seemed to be pushed on the shoulder by full-back Hector Bellerin but, despite Sherwood's protests, the referee waved play on.

And, just moments after the fourth official indicated three minutes of stoppage time, Arsenal made it 4-0 with Giroud flicking home Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin's cross to seal a perfect day for his side.