Arsenal vs. Chelsea FA Cup Final match thread: it’s time

It’s FA Cup Final day. Arsenal vs. Chelsea. A repeat of the 2002 and 2017 finals. Arsenal are looking for their record-extending 14th FA Cup title and more importantly, automatic qualification into next season’s Europa League.

There are all kinds of interesting stats and records heading into today’s match, most of them I included in the Preview. My favorite one is that a win tomorrow would be Arsenal’s 7th win in their last 7 FA Cup final appearances, which would tie Tottenham’s record, taking the Gunners just 18 years to do so as compared to the 82 years it took Spurs.

Chelsea got the better of Arsenal this season in the Premier League, winning 2-1 in late December in Mikel Arteta’s second match in charge and drawing 2-2 in late January. That draw, however, was a great result for the Gunners. Down to 10 because of a David Luiz red card in the 26th minute, Arsenal fought back from down a goal twice to share the points.

Arsenal will be without the usual long-term injuries, as well as Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring), Mesut Ozil (coach’s decision), and Matteo Guendouzi (coach’s decision). Chelsea are without Willian (slight injury/maybe coach’s decision) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (groin). N’Golo Kante (hamstring) starts on the bench for the Blues.

Arsenal - Martinez, Holding, David Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Chelsea - Caballero, James, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Giroud, Pulisic

WHAT: Arsenal vs. Chelsea, FA Cup Final
WHERE: Wembley Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, August 1st 9:30 AM PT | 12:30 PM ET | 7:30 PM BT
US TV: Not broadcast. Streaming on ESPN+.

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