Alexis Sanchez's FA Cup Final Goal Caps Superb Debut Season At Arsenal (Video)

Alexis Sanchez has been every bit as good as advertised in his first season with Arsenal.

Sanchez capped his debut campaign in English soccer Saturday with a wonder-strike against Aston Villa in the 2014-15 FA Cup final. Sanchez’s goal helped Arsenal win 4-0 and lift the FA Cup, the soccer world’s oldest competition, for the second consecutive season and a record 12th time in its history.

Arsenal was leading by one goal when Sanchez doubled the Gunners’ advantage in the 50th minute. The Chilean attacker did much of the work himself, creating space on the dribble and blasting a swerving shot past goalkeeper Shay Given from around 30 yards out.

The Telegraph rates Sanchez’s goal among the 10 best in FA Cup final history.

Sanchez became the first Chilean goal scorer in an FA Cup final in over 60 years.

[tweet https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/604703787018678272 align=’center’]

Arsenal paid Barcelona around £35 million ($53.5 million) last summer to sign Sanchez, whose time in North London has been an unqualified success so far. Sanchez, 26, was a finalist for the PFA’s (English soccer players’ union) Player of the Season award and a member of its Team of the Season.

[tweet https://twitter.com/8Fact_Footballl/status/604715054982959104 align=’center’]

Sanchez has been a favorite among fans, his coaches and his teammates. Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla hailed Sanchez’s impact on the Gunners following their FA Cup triumph.

“Alexis Sanchez is an amazing player and we are lucky to have him,” Cazorla said, according to The Star.

“Playing alongside Alexis Sanchez is great. I have had limited opportunities to do so but we link up well. He is very talented.”

Having retained the FA Cup, Arsenal now is targeting bigger prizes such as the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles. The Gunners will aim high and rely on the likes of Sanchez to fire it toward their ultimate destination next season and beyond.