FA Cup Final Weekend Preview and Tips as Arsenal and Chelsea Meet at Wembley

This weekend sees the culmination of the domestic season in the top flight of English football as Chelsea and Arsenal meet for the third time in 18 years in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Both sides came through as underdogs in their respective semifinals, defeating both Manchester sides on their way to claiming a place in the final.

For Arsenal, it is a chance to extend their record of 13 FA Cup Final wins to 14, moving two clear of Manchester United should they do so. Chelsea lie third in that list with eight wins in total and a win here would see them move into third place in that table alone. For both sides, the FA Cup represents their most realistic and likely only chance of silverware this season. For Arsenal too, it is their only chance of claiming a Europa League spot next season after missing out in the Premier League.

As is always the case when it comes to the big end of season FA Cup Final, interest in the game from the betting community in the UK and around the world is always huge. This weekend’s game won’t be any exception to that and if you are looking to place a bet on the final and want to sign up with a site that offers great soccer betting as well as a fantastic starter bonus, then the latest bet365 New Customer Bonus is the place to start.

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Let’s now take a closer look at the game coming up this weekend, the teams and players contesting it and what we think will be the final outcome allowing one team to hold aloft the famous trophy.

Arsenal v Chelsea – FA Cup Final Preview

• Venue – Wembley Stadium
• Date – Saturday 1^st August
• Kick Off Time – 5.30pm
• Referee – Anthony Taylor
• Current Odds with bet365 – Full Time Result – Arsenal 23/10, Draw – 12/5, Chelsea 23/20.

Anthony Taylor will take charge of his second FA Cup Final as the two London sides meet at Wembley for the third time in an FA Cup Final and in their fifth Major final in history. Arsenal have won both FA Cup Finals between the teams, winning 2-0 in 2002 and then a 2-1 victory in 2017. However, Chelsea have won both of the other finals, a 2-1 win in the Football League Cup in 2008 and last season’s 4-1 win in the Europa League Final in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The bookies have Chelsea as the slight favourites to take the win with Arsenal and the draw both a similar price.

The Road to Wembley

Arsenal

• 3^rd Round – v Leeds United (H) – W 1-0 (Nelson 55)
• 4^th Round – v Bournemouth (A) – W 2-1 (Saka 5, Nketiah 26)
• 5^th Round – v Portsmouth (A) – W 2-0 (Papasthatopoulos 45, Nketiah 51)
• Quarterfinals – v Sheff Utd (A) – W 2-1 (Pepe 25 (pen), Ceballos 90)
• Semifinal – v Manchester City (N) – W 2-0 (Aubameyang 19,71)

In contrast to their leaky form in the Premier League, Arsenal’s defence has been the foundation of their FA Cup run this season with just two goals conceded across their five games, all of which have been won at the first attempt and in normal time. Scoring nine goals across those games, the Gunners have been consistent rather than prolific in the cup this season and have knocked out three Premier League teams on their way to the final.

Chelsea

• 3^rd Round – v Nottingham Forest (H) – W 2-0 (Hudson Odoi 6, Barkley 33)
• 4^th Round – v Hull City (A) – W 2-1 (Batshuayi 6, Tomori 64)
• 5^th Round – v Liverpool (H) – W 2-0 (William 13, Barkley 64)
• Quarterfinals – v Leicester (A) – W 1-0 (Barkley 63)
• Semifinal – v Manchester United (N) – W 3-1 (Giroud 45, Mount 46, Maguire OG 74)

Chelsea’s record is very similar to Arsenal’s with five wins from five in normal time cementing their final spot and 10 goals scored (one more than Arsenal) and the same two goals conceded as the Gunners. Chelsea have had the tougher run to the final defeating the teams finishing 1^st, 4^th and 5^th in the Premier League over the last three rounds of the competition. Ross Barkley with three goals has scored the most for Chelsea in the competition but is not guaranteed a spot in the team for the final.

Possible FA Cup Final Teams

Arsenal – 3-4-3 – Martinez, Bellerin, Tierney, Mustafi, Luiz, Holding, Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Chelsea – 5-3-2 – Caballero, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Rudiger, Zouma, Mount, Jorginho, Kovacic, Giroud, Willan, Pulisic

Recent History – Arsenal v Chelsea

• 21^st January 2020 – Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)
• 29^th December 2019 – Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea (Premier League)
• 29^th May 2019 – Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal (Europa League Final)
• 19^th January 2019 – Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea (Premier League)
• 18^th August 2018 – Chelsea 3-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Chelsea have held the upper hand in recent games between the teams winning three of the last five and drawing one of the other games. Arsenal’s only win came last season in a 2-0 home win over their London rivals. The two games this season saw Chelsea win at the Emirates in December before Arsenal earned a battling 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge a month later.

What are the markets to back?

It is pretty evident from the form of both these teams, their recent results in the Premier League and also their recent history, that this is unlikely to be a game where one team runs away with it comfortably. As such, I think we could see a tight game and my gut feeling is that both teams will score, but that one will grab an extra goal to clinch the win inside 90 minutes.

Of the two teams, I feel Chelsea are probably the more consistent of the two, but that isn’t by much. I feel Arsenal’s front line are very dangerous, but I think Chelsea’s defence can cope better with them than Arsenal’s will with Chelsea’s attack. That and Chelsea’s extra quality in midfield will be the key to their victory I feel.

I’d back Chelsea to win at 23/20, a 2-1 win for Chelsea in the correct score market at 8/1 and then for an extra bet you could back Willian to score at any time who is a 13/5 chance.

*All odds shown were correct with bet365 as of 12.20pm on Tuesday 28^th July.