Chelsea will hope to stop Arsenal from winning the Emirates FA Cup for a record14-time in the history of the competition when both London sides clash in Saturday’s epic game at the prestigious Wembley Stadium.
Up for grabs is a whopping £6.9Billion prize for the winner in Britain’s oldest competition. The Gunnars pulled a surprise in the semifinal when they defeated Manchester City 2-0 and the Blues picked a morale boosting 3-1 victory over Manchester City to set up an intriguing London derby.
Head-to-Head
Arsenal have won on 76 occasions, Chelsea 65, with 59 draws shared. Of their FA Cup clashes, Arsenal have won nine to Chelsea’s five, with six draws.
Arsenal became the first club to reach 21 FA Cup Finals and now have the chance to become the first club to lift the FA Cup 14 times. A victory over Chelsea would mean the Gunners would also become the first club to beat the same opponents three times in FA Cup Finals.
Chelsea are into their 14th FA Cup Final and both they and Arsenal are appearing in their record setting 8th Final this Century.
Chelsea will also hold a distinct quirky FA Cup record. They appeared in the earliest in the season FA Cup Final at Wembley (11th April, 1970 against Leeds United) and now appear in the latest in the season FA Cup Final at Wembley (1st August).
Team news
Bernd Leno is aiming to return to training soon, but will not be ready for the final – and that means Emi Martinez will remain in goal.
Gabriel Martinelli (knee), Shkodran Mustafi (thigh), Pablo Mari (ankle) and Calum Chambers (knee) all remain sidelined by injury.
Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi are technically available, but it remains to be seen whether Arteta will restore either to his matchday squad.
N’Golo Kante is facing a race to return from a thigh injury. Even if he returns, it will most likely be as a substitute.
Billy Gilmour is out for the season after knee surgery, while Willian missed Chelsea’s final League game against Wolves through injury.
Probable XI
Arsenal: Martinez; Luiz, Holding, Bellerin, Tierney; Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Alonso; Barkley, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic.
Match officials
Anthony Taylor will be the referee for the final match and assisted by referees Gary Beswick (Durham FA) and Adam Nunn (Wiltshire FA), fourth official Chris Kavanagh (Manchester FA) and reserve assistant referee Lee Betts (Norfolk FA).
Stuart Attwell (Birmingham FA) will be the video assistant referee (VAR), and will be joined at Stockley Park by assistant VAR (AVAR) Steve Child (London FA).
The Emirates FA Cup 2019-20 Season prize money
Extra preliminary round winners (184) £2,250 Losers receive £750
Preliminary round winners (160) £2,890 Losers receive £960
First round qualifying winners (116) £4,500 Losers receive £1,500
Second Round Qualifying winners (80) £6,750 Losers receive £2,250
Third Round Qualifying winners (40) £11,250 Losers receive £3,750
Fourth Round Qualifying winners (32) £18,750 Losers receive £6,250
First Round Proper winners (40) £36,000
Second Round Proper winners (20) £54,000
Third Round Proper winners (32) £135,000
Fourth Round Proper winners (16) £180,000
Fifth Round Proper winners (8) £360,000
Quarter-Final winners (4) £720,000
Semi-Final winners (2) £1,800,000
Semi-Final losers (2) £900,000
Final runners-up (1) £1,800,000
Final winners (1) £3,600,000
Amounts are per club in each round. Numbers in brackets represent the number of winning clubs per round.
PREDICTION:
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea.
