Will the Gunners feel the Blues once again or will their cannons boom at Wembley?
Freshly-crowned English Premier League champions Chelsea take on Arsenal, bidding to win a League and Cup Double, when the arch-rivals collide in the 2017 FA Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday night, a tie that would spark some fireworks.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has conquered England in his debut season. While it wasn't easy initially, once the Blues got up and running, there was no looking back and now they are the favourites to lift their seventh FA Cup title. It is in stark contrast to the Gunners, who have just finished in their worst-ever position in the Premier League and are facing the prospect of no Champions League football next season.
Hence, on one hand is a squad that have won almost everything there is to win and on the other is the massively underperformed. Of course, Chelsea have the edge in Wembley, but then again this is the FA Cup and upsets are a part and parcel of the competition!
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While they finished the season with some momentum, it wasn't enough to secure a fourth-placed finish and to make matters worse, they have an injury crisis at the back, made worse with Laurent Koscielny’s suspension.
Arsene Wenger could just be in his final game of a long (and some would say too long) managerial tenure with the Gunners and what better way to go out by winning the club and unprecedented 12th title?
Easier said than done, for Chelsea are everything Arsenal are not, at the moment. While Arsenal are overly dependent on talisman Alexis Sanchez, Chelsea have a plethora of goal-scoring options upfront and while Gunners fans may not like to admit it, a real talent in Cesc Fabregas is warming the bench.
With Gabriel confirmed to be missing Saturday’s final, there seems to be no way Arsenal’s leaky backline will be able to withstand a Chelsea deluge and it would require a special team performance indeed if they are to end the season on a high.
What they are saying: “Something similar to what we did in the 3-0 win back in September will be required in the final, if we are to defeat them,” declares Arsenal Aaron Ramsey midfielder (www.arsenal.com)
Injury concerns: Alexis Sanchez (Thigh), Gabriel Paulista (Knee), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Hamstring), Santi Cazorla (Ankle), Lucas Perez (Thigh)
Suspension Alert: Laurent Koscielny
Only two things can deny Chelsea and Conte the Double on Saturday, complacency and Alexis Sanchez. Both will have to be addressed by Conte prior to kick-off, as complacency can kill the best of teams in big games. And while Arsenal seem to be a one-man show, that one man is special. Whether they choke up his supply or mark him out of the game, the Blues will certainly have a gameplan ready to continue their mostly favourable run against their arch-rivals.
What they are saying: “Chelsea will be favourites because of what they’ve done this season, but I don’t think you can take too much into account going into a final because they can go against the norm,” feels Chelsea legend Frank Lampard (www.chelseafc.com)
Injury concerns: None
Suspension Alert: None
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