It will go down as one of the strangest FA Cup finals on record. Despite fans being prevented from attending the domestic showpiece because of Covid, it was a day Matt Smith will never forget. After the full-time whistle confirmed the first and - as of right now - only major trophy of Arteta's reign, Smith received a winners' medal and had his picture taken with fellow substitute Bukayo Saka on the pitch with the FA Cup. I was on the bench for the quarter-final at Sheffield United, the semi-final with Manchester City and then the final. "When you're that young you don't really understand the importance of being part of the FA Cup final or the memories it's going to give you for the rest of your life.

Source: BBC February 15, 2026 15:32 UTC