Arsenal will take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final today with both in search of their first trophy of the campaign.
It would be crazy to say that our side want the trophy more than our rivals, but it would definitely mean more to our club with the added European football that would accompany it.
Unfortunately our season has not gone according to plan, and our eighth place league finish has left us without any chance of securing Europa or Champions League football through our league position, meaning we simply must win today.
We were the victors against this very same side in the final only three years ago, and with Mikel Arteta now in charge, we are now a side that cannot be taken lightly, even without the same level of personnel at present.
We come into the match with torrid form, winning against Watford in a crazy game which saw five goals and plenty of defensive errors, and losing 1-0 to Aston Villa in the match before that, but looking back to the Manchester City semi-final we know that we can bring that big-game mentality, and we should put our recent league form behind us.
The Blues come into the match with slightly better form, and the boost of having earned Champions League football will have brightened their morale, but they have not been close to foot-perfect, and their defence actually has the worst record in the top-ten of the division.
Chelsea do not have one out-and-out goalscorer either, with Tammy Abraham starting the season on-fire, he has dropped away, but the fact that their goals are shared out relatively equally means it is hard to focus on one player with a game-plan, while Chelsea will definitely have extra impetus on stopping Aubameyang, who narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot this term.
While I believe we will be set out to nullify the Blues attack, I can’t help but see goals at both ends of the pitch today, but I don’t see there being any more than three goals in the match.
I’m going for a 2-1 win at Wembley today, and for some reason believe that we will be coming from behind after an early Chelsea goal, maybe snatching the win in extra-time.
What are your predictions for today’s big game? Will Arteta be too focussed on stopping Chelsea or will he set-up the team to pile pressure on their leaky defence?
Patrick
I agreed with any winning, 1-0, 2-1. In short, any winning
If we are to win it is vital to score first. I simply cannot see us coming from behind and if we do, we would need to open up what I hope and believe will be a tight defensive shape(as against City and Liverpool recently). If we have to open up while coming from behind, I see us being soundly beaten, so we need to score first. That much is near certain.
I couldn’t care less right now if it was the most boring game in history. As long as we win and get into Europe next year!
Just need to keep it tight at the back and defend in numbers. Score in the 96th minute!!
Please take your chances!!!
The nerves are kicking in now…..
Well said. Since the team has no real leader with a commanding presence, I think the team need to come out more discipline today putting every player in check not underestimating anyone as well as taking their chances.
.A good performance please with a win attached to it. Don’t care how, fabulous football would be good, but please just do it.
A bit of revenge as well springs to mind too.
How vital is this one game!!
We have to win to;
– Save our terrible season
– Have any European football
– Convince Auba to sign
– Convince the board that Mikel needs to be backed in market
– Get us back on track and get that winning mentality in this squad so soon after Artetas appointment.
Going to be a very hard game and I’m calling Giroud & Pulisic to be the ones to cause us major problems. Luiz & Bellerin have to have a great game at the back to win this.
Going forward I think we have the better strikers but all depends what Mikel does with Auba & Laca, Start both maybe?
I’m going for 2-2 FT. Arsenal to win it on penalties. Please no repeat of EL final 😔 we did this before 3 years ago let’s do it again. Cmon you gunners 👊
👍
We need to keep 11 players on the pitch to have any chance of winning so no silly tackles please
Definitely hope Luiz reads that
I hope we win but do the board know what they are doing or better still doe’s any one in the board know what they are doing
What have the board got to do with it?
Arteta picks the team and the players play the game.
Simply put, Chelsea has the best central midfield in the league.
We have to accept that we are never going to dominate them on the ball…
The best way to organize ourselves is to pack more midfielders.
Martinez
Soares…Mustafi…Luiz…Tierney
M-Niles….Xhaka….Ceballos
Pepe…..Aubameyang….Nelson
Soares is cup-tied
Mustafi injured!
Thank God , you’re not our coach. How can you be fielding injured player. You’re not current at all
We are gonna win? Won’t be easy game to be decided by a certain VAR penalty to Arsenal 😜
Then,
Martinez
Bellerin…Holding…Luiz….Tierney
M-Niles….Xhaka…..Ceballos
Pepe….Aubameyang….R.Nelson
Still a poor selection of players. Artetar knows best
5-3 to us, Tierney, Pepé and a hat trick for Aubamayang.
2-2 at half time.
Yes, I’ve started drinking early 🤪
😄👍
Why do some people here forget when we came from behind and held Chelsea to a draw when we were even a man less after sending off of Luiz in January this year? I don’t believe we are underdogs. We are at par with Chelsea, only that we had a bad start this season due to Emery’s incompetence. Besides we have always given Chelsea a run for their money. That idle talk of being underdogs is in the minds of some self-styled pundits. The underdog will be determined after the match. If we come with a clear winning strategy we shall win this game.
Declan I mean after the final