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 Chelsea fans
Chelsea fans

English FA Cup final through the eye of a Chelsea fan

Oh how time flies and who does not believe that no condition is permanent? Last season was a disastrous one by all standards for Chelsea and the teeming fans around the world and we watched on gleefully as our rivals taunted us with their silverware and impressive finishes.

This season, the tables have turned and Chelsea are not talking of just a silverware, but two! Of course, the prestigious Premier League title has been won in style and it was no where near that heart-clinching manner in which the last two titles had been decided. And this weekend, there is the chance to make it double joy with the FA Cup title against Arsenal.

Though not the biggest of rival the fierce battles between them in recent times have made it one of the most competitive rivalries in English football. Chelsea versus Arsenal in an F.A Cup final will be a very befitting end to the English season. 

Chelsea will be happy to end their season on a high looking forward to completing another domestic double which was achieved by Jose Mourinho by winning the Capital One Cup and Premier League title in the 2014/2015 season and Carlo Ancelotti in during the 2009/2010 season winning the FA Cup and Premier League. 

Arsenal will also love to put a smile on the faces of their numerous fans around the world after an underwhelming season by winning their 13th FA Cup title making them the club with the most FA Cup titles in England. 

This matchup at the New Wembley tomorrow promises to be a good one as both teams will be looking forward to winning this prestigious cup. 

Chelsea have won this competition seven times and looking for their eighth with the last one coming in a 2-1 win against Liverpool during the 2011/2012 season.  Arsenal come into this final with 12 FA Cup triumphs level with Manchester United with their last coming against Aston Villa in a 4-0 win in 2014/2015. Arsenal are the specialists in this competition as they have won two FA Cup titles in the last three seasons whilst Chelsea have one FA Cup title since 2010. 

Arsene Wenger is a specialist of the FA Cup masterminding 6 successes with Arsenal making him the manager with the most FA Cups level with Gordon Ramsay formerly of Aston Villa. 

Wenger will like to take some pressure off him and his players after a poor season by their own standards who are going to miss out next season’s UEFA Champions League campaign finishing 5th this season in the English Premier League. Unknown to many if Arsene Wenger will still oversee Arsenal next season, he will like to win the FA Cup to cement his place as Arsenal’s boss next season. 

Arsenal will try to keep talisman Alexis Sanchez who undoubtedly has been their best player this season with Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich rumored to secure his signature. Arsenal are hopeful of beating league champions Chelsea after elimination Manchester City in the semifinal 2-1 with Alexis Sanchez scoring the winner in the extra time at the New Wembley stadium.  Theo Walcott is Arsenal’s highest top scorer in the FA Cup with five goals in three matches. 

Antonio Conte on the other hand will love to win his first FA Cup in charge of Chelsea on his first attempt. Conte has enjoyed a good season as he defied the odds to win the Premier League title after Chelsea had a disastrous campaign last season finishing 10th.

He will not mind rounding off this impressive season with another piece of silverware. Conte has shown his tactical prowess like any top Italian manager after successive defeats at home to Liverpool and away to Arsenal earlier this season using his signature 3-4-3 formation to guide Chelsea to the top of the Premier League which had a run of a 13-match winning streak this season. 

The Italian tactician signed N’goloKante, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso and MichyBatshuayithis season as they all played an important role in clinching the title this season for Chelsea. Chelsea’s stars Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas once an Arsenal skipper, Diego Costa and Pedro Rodriguez are amongst the stars in Conte’s setup that will like to add another piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet. 

Pedro and Willian are Chelsea’s top scorers in the FA Cup with four goals each this season. Chelsea will give the proper sendoff to John Terry after it was announced he will leave the club at the end of the season earlier this year after 22 years of excellent service as Chelsea’s most successful captain. Conte has no injured players going into this year’s final and it gives them an upper hand in this case.

These two teams are going to meet each other for the third time this season after Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-0 and Chelsea beat Arsenal 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture. This is going to be the match that will give the bragging rights to either side as London’s top club and should Arsenal win this final get a chance to face Chelsea in the Community Shield to usher in the 2017/2018 season.

 

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