
(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal FA Cup Final Preview
Arsenal progressed to the FA Cup final with an excellent 2-0 victory over previous holders Manchester City last weekend. The Gunners will take on fellow Londoners Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday August 1st and it will be Mikel Arteta’s first chance to secure silverware as Arsenal manager. Arteta previously lifted the trophy as a player with Arsenal in 2014 and 2015.
The final will be Arsenal’s 21st in appearance in the competition and will provide an opportunity for them to become the most successful team in the competition’s history with the possibility of winning their 14th FA Cup. The final is also Arsenal’s first since 2017 and their fourth appearance out of the last seven seasons. If you use 10bets sign up offer for the FA Cup final you can get great odds and match information.
Arsenal have overcome some tough opposition in their run to the FA Cup final. So far, they have beaten Premier League opponents Manchester City, Sheffield United and Bournemouth in previous rounds. They also faced Championship champions Leeds at the Emirates in the third round, whom they narrowly beat 1-0 in one of Mikel Arteta’s first games in charge.
The Gunners have impressed in the competition so far. They have scored nine goals, conceded only two and kept clean sheets in three of their five previous games to maintain the joint best defence in the competition along with fellow finalists Chelsea.
Arsenal also boast an excellent FA Cup final record. They have won all six of their previous final appearances, a run stretching back to the 2001 final where they were beaten by a Michael Owen inspired Liverpool.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s two strikes against Manchester City make him the highest scoring player for Arsenal in the competition alongside Eddie Nketiah, who scored against Portsmouth and Bournemouth in earlier rounds. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is the only Arsenal player to feature in every minute of Arsenal’s FA Cup campaign this season, which has been central to their impressive defensive record.
The last time Arsenal lifted the FA Cup trophy in 2017, they beat Chelsea 2-1 after trailing 1-0 for much of the game. However, Chelsea have a better recent head to head record against the Gunners in all competitions. The Blues have beaten Arsenal three times in their last six meetings and haven’t lost to the Gunners in the last three meetings between the sides. Arsenal’s last victory over Chelsea was a 2-0 win at the Emirates in January 2019
Arsenal will be without Pablo Mari (knee), Calum Chambers (knee), Gabriel Martinelli (ankle) and Mesut Ozil (lower back) who are all recovering from long-term injuries. Matteo Guendouzi won’t feature as he trains away from the squad due to disciplinary issues. Reiss Nelson (groin) and Shkodran Mustafi (thigh) should recover in time for the final.
Although Chelsea have the better recent record of the two teams, Arsenal’s cup form is particularly impressive and Arteta will be keen to continue to the club’s successful tradition in the FA Cup which could lead to a tight Arsenal victory on August 1st.
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