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Yet the Gunners’ victory was build on the defensive foundations of what seemed to be an unfamiliar partnership.
With first choice centre-backs Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny injured, youngster Rob Holding was drafted in alongside veteran Per Mertesacker.
Arsene Wenger switched to a back three for the semi-final win over Manchester City, and it heralded a successful run in the side for former Bolton defender Holding.
“If I could sum up last year in three words they would be: unbelievable, crazy and nerve-racking,” he told the official Arsenal website.
“To get that run at the end of the season with nine games in total was just a massive bonus for the end of that year.
“When you’re playing week-in, week-out you do feel more part of the team and involved.
“Not that I wasn’t part of the team, but it is just slightly different as when you are playing week-in, week-out the lads are relying on you to not make any mistakes.”
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“To get that run at the end of the season with nine games in total was just a massive bonus for the end of that year”
Rob Holding
Holding started Arsenal’s last five Premier League games of the 2016/17 season.
The north Londoners won all five matches conceding just two goals in the process.
But it was the FA cup wins over Pep Guardiola’s City and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea that defined the Gunners’ year.
“The FA Cup final was obviously a massive game and Per’s first of the season,” Holding continued.
“We just slotted in side-by-side and I’d done a lot of work with Per when we weren’t playing and we were always together on the training ground.
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“So it wasn’t like an unknown person alongside me, it was someone I knew quite well.
“I felt like he was alway alongside me, he was always there behind me if I made a mistake or someone got past me he was there to sweep up.
“Likewise if he was outdone and someone got past him, I felt like I was there and that let us both play with freedom.
“I think that is the solidarity you need, and we needed to grin and bear it towards the end of the game to keep the win.”
Arsenal face Southampton next in the Premier League on Sunday (12pm).