Manchester City claim their second double and the 13th in football history, but it says much about the scale of this Abu Dhabi project that such feats were almost of secondary concern on the day. Much more satisfying for them was that they beat their greatest rivals to the FA Cup, while claiming the victory that now puts them on the brink of equalling Manchester United’s unique achievement of a treble.

City mostly kept United at arm’s length, principally because David de Gea’s defence decided to give Gundogan so much space. He needed no invitation to use it, scoring the goal that won City’s seventh FA Cup. The German has already proved himself one of Pep Guardiola’s most important players, particularly in that title run-in, but he has now written himself into the folklore of the oldest competition in football.

A Manchester United supporter was arrested at Wembley on Saturday after being photographed at the FA Cup final wearing a T-shirt with an offensive reference to the Hillsborough disaster printed on the back.

The unnamed man had a photo posted on social media showing him wearing a customised United jersey bearing the number 97 and the words “Not Enough” above them - seeming to reference the number of Liverpool supporters who died at, or afterwards as a result of, the 1989 stadium crush in Sheffield.

While the person’s face was not shown in the image circulating online, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they had arrested the individual for a public order offence after working with ground staff. A further photo posted by another account showed the man in handcuffs being put into a police van.

The previous time a Manchester City captain lifted the FA Cup it represented his perfect goodbye. Vincent Kompany announced his departure the following morning. He had spent the second half, he subsequently admitted, soaking it all in, surveying the fans, with victory against Watford long since assured.

As City, a game away from the treble, may make history, there is a way in which it might repeat itself. Partly, anyway. Once again, the captain is out of contract, wondering what comes next. This time, he has one more game, a Champions League final. And this time the skipper was not a spectator standing on the Wembley pitch. He was the match-winner.

He often is. When a season reaches its business end, the man City increasingly rely upon is Ilkay Gundogan, the nice guy with a tendency to finish first and, as his winning goals demonstrate, score last. He can trace two of a growing medal collection directly to his strikes; to his doubles, really, as a brace decided the Premier League on the final day of last season and another secured the FA Cup. The platform for this season’s league title was laid by Gundogan, his pairs of goals against Leeds and Everton demoralising Arsenal. No wonder Mikel Arteta wants to recruit him. If you can’t stop Gundogan, sign him.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, speaking to BBC One: “Everyone is down and it’s really difficult. We wanted to end the season in a different way but it wasn’t possible.

“We’ve made big steps for next season, it wasn’t a successful season overall but it was a good one. We have come back next season and try to win bigger trophies.

“We came back into the game [after conceding early], we started badly but came back into it and had good spells on the ball in the first half.

“After we scored, we had some good counters but didn’t score. We conceded early in the second half and then still had other chances but we didn’t and City deserved the win.

“We were too soft and gave up too much space for the first goal but it’s an amazing strike. If players are tighter then maybe they can stop it but it’s an amazing strike.

“He’s [Gundogan] an amazing player and one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

“Our fans have been great all season and they deserved a different result today. We’re disappointed that we couldn’t give fans the joy they deserve.

“We are grateful for everything they have done this season. I promise we will come and try again next season.”

Manchester United have lost more FA Cup finals than any other side in the history of the competition (9). The Red Devils have now lost four of their last five final appearances in the competition.

Manchester City midfielder Jack Grealish, speaking to BBC One: "Unbelievable. It’s stuff you dream of when you’re a little kid. I was desperate to win one at Villa and now I’ve done it.

"I don’t even think it’s a penalty. I wasn’t even looking at it, I turned and it hit my arm but Gundogan saved me.

"The best thing about this team is we have a mix of everything. Everyone is confident, we’ve got older more experienced lads and the younger lads are learning too.

"We’ll have a good night tonight and then straight back at it on Sunday and Monday for a big game next week. I don’t win an FA Cup every week so I’m going to enjoy it.

“Straight back to training and recovery tomorrow. I love this club, the players and the staff."

Manchester City have scored 150 goals in all competitions this season.

It’s just the fourth time an English top-flight club has scored as many in a single campaign, with Man City also responsible for the other three (156 in 2013/14, 169 in 2018/19, 150 last season).

At 32 years and 222 days, Ilkay Gundogan became the oldest player to score an FA Cup final brace since Nat Lofthouse in 1958, also against Manchester United (32y 249d).

Pep Guardiola has become the third manager in English football to win the League and FA Cup double in multiple seasons (also 2018/19) after Arsene Wenger (1997/98 and 2001/02) and Alex Ferguson (1993/94, 1995/96 and 1998/99).