In the 136th FA Cup final, Arsenal will take on Premier League champions Chelsea at a sold out Wembley Stadium. The final will bring to a close a disastrous season for the Gunners as they missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in two decades. For Chelsea, the match could crown a dominant campaign, as they’ve already recorded the 2nd highest league points total in history.
Antonio Conte’s first season at Chelsea has been amazing but it could be twice as good with an FA Cup win on Saturday. However, it may be one step too far for the Italian. Arsenal are the joint most successful team in the FA Cup for a reason, and they could that tradition on Saturday.
Here are 5 reasons why Arsenal will beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
#5 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s return from injury
Arsène Wenger confirmed yesterday in his press conference that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in full training and more than likely to start in the FA Cup final. Why is this such a big deal? Let me enlighten you on the importance of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to this team.
The Englishman has been a revelation ever since the switch to three at the back. His new found position at right wing-back has allowed him to showcase all his best attributes; pace, power, ball control, dribbling and crossing technique.
The change of position has translated positively for Chamberlain in terms of statistical return. The 23-year old has now had his best ever season for Arsenal; he’s scored six goals and provided eight assists for Arsenal this season, his most ever.
He’s been able to produce that in only 1941 minutes of football, meaning he’s directly contributed to a goal every 138 minutes. Against a suspect Marcus Alonso, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will enjoy acres of space and opportunities to run with the ball down the right flank.
#4 Arsène Wenger is staying to fight on
The saying you can’t teach an old dog new tricks may be true, but for Arsène Wenger, he better pray it’s not. The rumours that the Frenchman could be given a one-year extension are getting stronger by the day and a dejected Arsenal fan base have come to accept it. To avoid another year of resentment and constant protesting, Arsène Wenger must use this final to prove he’s still the man for the job.
Arsenal fans don’t want another season of not being able to compete with the big boys. What better way to prove that you can still compete with them than to beat the Premier League champions in a high-profile cup final. He’s shown us his tactical flexibility, but Wenger now needs to prove he can still inspire a group of players to deliver when the pressure is actually on.
After missing out on Champions League football for the first time ever, Arsène Wenger’s back is truly up against the wall. It’s in such situations that true genius is nurtured, that’s why I believe Arsenal’s greatest ever manager will show his true worth once again and win the FA Cup.
#3 Chelsea are not bulletproof
They may have won 30 of their 38 league games, but no team on the planet is perfect and Chelsea do have subtle areas of weakness. The fact the league champions are planning a multi-million-pound spending spree in the summer only re-enforces the narrative that they want to improve.
Marcos Alonso has had a good first season in English football, but his lack of pace may provide Arsenal with opportunities to expose. If targeted constantly in the right manner, the Spaniard could be overrun by both Mesut Özil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain down the right flank.
Alongside him in the back five, Gary Cahill’s inconsistent decision-making has been less apparent this season. The Englishman relies on his fellow defenders for cover his positioning. Chelsea’s system covers the unit as a whole, but if Arsenal can isolate the centre-backs from their partners, it may lead to several goal-scoring opportunities.
#2 Arsenal’s new formation
Ever since the Gunners switched to the formidable 3-4-2-1 system, Wenger’s men have looked like a new side. The same three at the back system that fired Chelsea to the title will help Arsenal lift the FA Cup on Saturday. Funnily enough, it was the 3-0 thrashing at the Emirates that inspired this tactical change from Antonio Conte, now Arsenal have followed similar suit.
The 3-4-2-1 system suits every single Arsenal player in the squad, it brings out the best in the players. The shape of the system offers defensive protection through all phases of the team. Since the switch to three at the back, Arsenal have conceded only five goals in seven games.
Attacking wise, the formation allows Arsenal to constantly sustain width during the build-up, the wing-backs stay pitched on either flank. With that sustained width, the two behind the striker in Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez are allowed to free roam across the final third, equating to 15 goals in seven games. Chelsea haven’t faced this form of Arsenal and I don’t think they’ll fare too well when they do this Sunday.
#1 Arsène Wenger is the FA Cup king
If you didn’t know, no man in the history of football has won the FA Cup more times than Arsène Wenger. The Frenchman has won the coveted cup competition on six separate occasions, a feat bettered by nobody. Even in his 26 years as Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson only managed to win the Cup five times.
Many criticise Wenger for only winning three league titles in 20 seasons at Arsenal but nobody can fault his domestic history. In the seven FA Cup finals he’s reached, Wenger has only lost one. The man is built for the bright lights at Wembley, he’s had 11 cup semi-finals and seven finals at the ground, Antonio Conte has only had one so far.
