Frank Lampard’s Chelsea head into the Wembley showpiece as 3/5 favourites to lift the FA Cup, with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at 5/4.
The Blues are the 11/10 favourites to win in 90 minutes, with the Gunners coming in as the 5/2 underdogs.
If a result can’t be determined within 90 minutes, then we’ve got Chelsea as 9/1 to win in extra time or 11/1 on penalties. Arsenal can be found at 12/1 in extra time, or 11/1 on penalties.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is favourite to break the deadlock for Arsenal. He’s 7/2 to score first, or you can find 7/5 on him anytime.Alexandre Lacazette is 21/10 anytime.
For the Blues, former Gunner Olivier Giroud is favourite to score first as he did in last year’s Europa League final at 4/1, alongside Tammy Abraham. The in-form Christian Pulisic is a 15/8 anytime scorer.
It’s derby day in the 2019/20 FA Cup Final, but it’s perhaps not the derby everyone was expecting before the semi-finals as Arsenal take on Chelsea under the Wembley arch.
Arsenal caused the shock of the semis, with Arteta masterminding the perfect counter-attacking performance to beat Manchester City 2-0. The following day, Lampard led his Chelsea side to a dominant 3-1 win over Manchester United, booking a London derby at Wembley.
It’s a repeat of the 2017 FA Cup final, where Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1, despite the Blues’ dominance throughout the season having won the Premier League title.
Fast forward three years, and it’s a very different look for both sides. Their place at a Wembley final is an achievement for both teams, rather than expectation, with both teams under the guidance of rookie managers.
Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard are both on the hunt for their first piece of silverware as a manager, despite tasting success in the FA Cup final a staggering six times between them in their professional careers.
But unlike the 2015 FA Cup final for Arteta, and the 2012 FA Cup final for Lampard, once the game kicks-off, there’s not much they can do to influence which part of London the trophy heads to.
After clinching a Champions League place on the last game of the season, Chelsea’s road to Europe is already secure, unlike Arsenal. If they’re to achieve a Europa League spot for next season, nothing but a victory here is good enough. They’ll also end Wolves’ European ambitions in the process.
That could mean that with ‘less’ riding on the final, the pressure is well and truly off Lampard and his Chelsea side. Without the added pressure of European qualification on their shoulders, they can go out and play with the freedom we’ve seen glimpses of this season.
They’ll head into the final with far fewer injury concerns than their opponents, after Lampard confirmed that both Willian and N’Golo Kante are both back in contention to feature. It remains to be seen whether they’re fit enough to start.
The Blues are only without Billy Gilmour after his knee surgery a few weeks ago, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with Lampard revealing that he’d picked up a knock in training.
North Londoners Arsenal are still without several prominent squad players, with Gabriel Martinelli, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, Shkodran Mustafi and Bernd Leno confirmed to miss this clash through injury, while Cedric Soares is ineligible.
That means Emiliano Martinez will retain his place between the sticks, but you’ll be hard pressed to find an Arsenal fan with anything to complain about there.
Arteta’s main dilemma will be his back line. David Luiz looks set to line up against his former side, with Kieran Tierney the only other guaranteed starter in defence.
Aubameyang hasn’t yet signed a new deal with the Gunners and could yet leave this summer. If he’s got his heart set on a move away, he’ll look to sign off in style by lifting the silverware, much like Eden Hazard’s fairy-tale farewell from Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku.
Arsenal are going for a record 14th FA Cup title in 21 appearances, while Chelsea are lining up in their 14th final looking to win their ninth title. Which London side will have the bragging rights come Saturday evening?
