Santi Cazorla nabs photographer's camera to capture Arsenal's FA Cup celebrations

  • Arsenal came back to beat Hull City 3-2 to win the FA Cup at Wembley
  • Santi Cazorla borrowed photographer's camera to capture the moment
  • Gunners midfielder's final shot shows Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky

By David Kent

Santi Cazorla became the latest footballer to commemorate his FA Cup moment by nabbing one of the pitchside photographer's cameras to capture the special occasion.

In the aftermath of Arsenal's dramatic 3-2 victory against Hull City at Wembley, the Spanish playmaker - who scored a stunning free-kick to spark the Gunners' comeback - sneakily borrowed Back Page Image's Kieran McManus' lens to snap a few shots of the celebrations.

The 29-year-old, wearing an Arsenal scarf wrapped around his head, ignored the temptation for yet another footballer selfie, to take a picture of match winner Aaron Ramsey striking a victory pose with Tomas Rosicky.

Through the looking glass: Santo Cazorla borrows Sportsmail photographer's camera at Wembley

Through the looking glass: Santo Cazorla borrows Sportsmail photographer's camera at Wembley

Smile! The Spanish playmaker marked the occasion of Arsenal's win by snapping the celebrations

Smile! The Spanish playmaker marked the occasion of Arsenal's win by snapping the celebrations

Final shot: Cazorla captured goal hero Aaron Ramsey (L) and Tomas Rosicky after the Gunners' 3-2 comeback win

Final shot: Cazorla captured goal hero Aaron Ramsey (L) and Tomas Rosicky after the Gunners' 3-2 comeback win

McManus was unaware that Cazorla had used his camera until afterwards. He said: 'After photographing Arsenal lift the trophy and celebrate with their fans I went to collect my remote camera from behind the goal and had realised it had been moved.

'Wondering why, I looked back through the images on the memory card to see if I'd captured any of the goals when I realised that somebody had picked it up and used it to photograph some of the Arsenal players celebrating.

'It wasn't until I got back into the photographers room that somebody told me that it was in fact Santi Cazorla who had turned from goalscorer to photographer! Although the pictures are bit soft I think for his first effort he's done ok!'

The photographer's boss, Javier Garcia MD of Back Page Images, remarked: 'Players picking up cameras from behind the goal to take images of their team-mates after winning important matches at Wembley has become almost as commonplace as selfies, but they are still intriguing images as it gives you an insight into how they might approach photography were the tables ever turned.'

'For the majority of the season, interaction between players and photographers on match-days is almost non-existent yet they all know we are there waiting to capture the
positive, negative, quirky and spectacular moments, so it is fascinating to see what they produce.

'Although Cazorla's images won't win any photographic awards, his attempts to photograph his team mates are probably better than Kieran's attempts at scoring from long-range free kicks in a Cup Final!'

But, this isn't the first time that a player has made use of a photographer's cameras. At the Wembley semi-final, Hull winger Ahmed Elmohamady also stepped behind the lens.

After his side beat League One's Sheffield United, Elmohamady took Sportsmail's very own award-winning snapper Graham Chadwick's unit from behind the goal and began clicking away.

The final shots are perhaps less composed than Cazorla's efforts, but still likely to make his own personal photo album.

Perfect view: Chadwick's remote camera was behind the goal to get up close and personal action shots

Perfect view: Chadwick's remote camera was behind the goal to get up close and personal action shots

Crowd shot: But our snapper got more than he bargained for has the Egyptian winger took over

Crowd shot: But our snapper got more than he bargained for has the Egyptian winger took over

Look out Gunners: After a scare, the Premier League side came back to win 5-3 and book a meeting with Arsenal

On our way (back) to Wembley! Elmohamady's best effort is the now ubiquitous footballer's mass selfie

However, the most memorable act of camera theft must be Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt's typically showman celebration after wining gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

After crossing the finishing line ahead of compatriots Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, the 25-year-old dropped to the track and performed press-ups, before borrowing a photographer camera to take souvenir snapshots of the occasion.

We suspect the final shots were taken for 'express' development.

Jamaican me smile: Usain Bolt also used a photographer's camera after his gold winning sprint at London 2012

Jamaican me smile: Usain Bolt also used a photographer's camera after his gold winning sprint at London 2012

Watch the birdie! Bolt used the oportunity to take snaps of his beaten rivals

Watch the birdie! Bolt used the oportunity to take snaps of his beaten rivals

Strike a pose! Yohan Blake flexes for his countryman despite being beaten into second place in the 100m final

Strike a pose! Yohan Blake flexes for his countryman despite being beaten into second place in the 100m final

 

 



The comments below have not been moderated.

They love a camera this lot

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nope they are waiting for gigs and van gaal to be fired after murhino.... in 2014/15..

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Santi is world class.

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rubbish

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CRAP

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Probably another bitter spud!

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Na he must be a plastic fan they melt in the sun

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His free kick was great, well done to him. The photo may not be brilliant, but he enjoyed it.

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Arsenal are going to be still celebrating when the new season kicks off.

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nope, they are waiting for gigs and van gall to be fired along with

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"So how good are they?" Just about good enough to come back and beat Hull City who finished 16th that's how good they are.

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2013... beaten by a relegated team... remember that...?

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