It is here, another FA Cup final for the mighty Arsenal. We’re going for number 14. Mikel Arteta is going for his first as a coach. The young players are going for their first-ever trophy. We have Europe on the line.
It’s different this year and it’s a shame. I’ve never missed an Arsenal FA Cup final. I usually go with my football family, we meet up, get drunk, celebrate or commiserate together, and then it’s a beautiful memory forever locked (even the losses can be fun after).
My Uncle, who is a Leeds fan said to me a few years ago that trophies were about parties. If you’re having a lot of parties, life is good, but if you’re not, then what’s the point?
Arsenal fans might not have had a lot of major-trophy parties of late, but we’re certainly advanced in FA Cup shindigs. This is our trophy, no one has won it as often as us. You feel something in the air whenever we head to Wembley. Wenger took these games very seriously, he loved the FA Cup, and I expect some of that has rubbed off on Arteta, who played as his captain in a winning side. Let’s hope Mikel has a similar relationship with the trophy.
Today is going to be tough, we’re not favourites which is unusual, and the squad of players we have available can be a little bit like that box of chocolates Forest Gump always bangs on about. You don’t know what you’re going to get. However, after thinking about it, under Mikel Arteta, it is more likely than ever that we’ll be picking out a chocolate that doesn’t have a sour liqueur hiding inside.
We’ve beaten United, Liverpool, and City this season. Both our Chelsea games, whilst not optimal, saw solid performances. We’ve had some very good away wins in 2020 as well. Arteta tailors a game plan to the match, the players understand it, and if there are no mistakes, we usually have a pretty good chance of making it very difficult for the other side.
I think we’ll see more of that today. There are rumours that Kieran Tierney is being considered as a centre back today, Ainsley is apparently getting the nod, then it’s with the gods how we set the team up from there.
This isn’t the same game as City or Liverpool. Chelsea has a pretty exciting collection of players that can move the ball through midfield. They play very attractive football at their peak, they are quick on the counter, and they can also pick apart a deep block. They have Olivier Giroud, say what you will about him, but he’ll be motivated, he’s a brilliant link-up striker, and he can score outrageous goals. Willian is in blistering form and along with Kante, is in the squad today.
Their weak spot is in defence. Frank Lampard teams often have a soft underbelly through the middle of the park, and this particular team has struggled with the goalkeeping position. Chelsea actually conceded more goals in the league than Arsenal this season, clocking in at a whopping 54. That is a massive opportunity if you can deal with them going forward. Tough to see how we bring exciting football to unlock their defence after bumming around without a #10 for so long, but we have seen glimpses of good play, particularly the first half against Leicester.
Our challenge is defence, individual errors, and in-game management. We don’t have Mustafi and in this squad, that’s a problem. He’s been huge for us under Mikel, bar a couple of games I think he was fatigued in. There aren’t many good options for us, but nor was there in 2017 when Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding put in a BEASTLY performance for us. The individual errors issue always lurks, our xG has been shocking this season in part because of that, the players know this, and they have to be at their best today to avoid being ‘that guy’ in a final. I also think Lampard has been adept at times at changing things up during the game. Arteta needs to make good decisions when that happens today because Chelsea has more from the bench than we do.
In Arteta’s first run out in the league, a game I attended, we were really unlucky. Callum Chambers picked up a nasty injury, then Frank made some smart changes from the bench and got quite lucky with Jorginho staying on the pitch. The second game we managed to rescue the game with Xhaka and Mustafi sitting on the bench. This is our third crack at Chelsea, arguably the most important on, we have to deliver. Lampard will come with something interesting tactically and we have to counter it, and then move fast to deal with whatever he does in the second phase of the game.
Moments like today define managers and projects. A trophy in your first season, whatever it is, can be absolutely huge. It builds trust from the players, it bonds squads, it builds rapport with the fans, creates forward momentum, and it’s just a beautiful feeling to know you’re on the right path.
This is massive.
Enjoy the game, have fun with your friends and families, let’s make some memories of a different kind today.
Big love from everyone at Le Grove, COME ON YOU GUNNERS xx
AMN showing intent and fight. Good lad.
Pepe loses the bal so fucking easily.
Come on Pepe FFS
Ffs. If our wing backs only do back and side passes, we might as well go home!
Bellerin looks so scared of going forward
Paulinho
Yep. Tremendous performance for him. Adept at moving across front line.
our press is weak….
need the team to get more energy…
Laca needs to drop back- too high up the pitch
This is a stroll for Chelsea. Depressing stuff.
Poor 20 so far and hard to pick too many positives other than its only 1 and there is loads of time….. pepe needs to do more for sure
Ceballos is really good
We should just find a way to buy him.
So outplayed. Weak specimens can’t do a thing when faced with tough and pacy opponents.
Wenger Eagle
Fair enough man. I always knew he had technical ability and silky skills. His finishing however is what has surprised me. His shooting especially roofing it with power into the top net is so clinical.
Lol arteta talking to xhaka and he just ignores him and goes on to pick up the bottle..shows you how much respect Arteta commands LOL
Up to now, Bellerin is the most useless player both offensively and defensively.
Beginning to suspect Bellerin got a thing against Pepe. Trying to frustate that player even as Pepe gets into position
Beginning to suspect Bellerin got a thing against Pepe. Trying to frustate that player even as Pepe gets into position
Pepe needs to tuck in more….. hugging the sideline not working today as much…. we need another attacking in the middle(ish)
Dissenter
I don’t know if you are being sarcastic.
But I actually think not only is he good but I think he is still getting better. Dont think this is him at his peak. This is just him somewhat accustomed to the league playing in a shit team.
Don’t buy Ceballos. Loconotion. Still side and back passes laced with some twists and turns. Any output?
Asoa
Pepe needs to pull the finger out regardless of other players.
Been a pussy again so far
WTF is the flag up for????
Offside but great finish
shit
Oh shit.
Ceballos can be useful if he stops side and back passes. Like this.
PPENAlty
Penalty
Fucking pen that no?
Was out of sorts at Dortmund towards the end and put in some tepid performances but just needed a change of scenery from the evidence.
_______
No man… He was injured a lot .. and Jurgen Klinsmann in all his brilliance was freezing him out of US national side so his headspace wasn’t right. Klinnsmann got the sack and he got healthy finally. Still hate him for going to Chelski.
Need to get a goal and get a restart… Penalty!!
How the fuck is that a yellow?
Goal scoring opportunity is a red from an outfield player
Pen!!
Contact continued in the box.
Good. Penalty. Should be RED!
And a yellow?
Nice strike by Pepe
Unlucky
A red card????
Beautiful strike by Pepe. If only he and Subs got proper service
Auba was very smart there
Lets go
Red card he’s the last man
The first goal was a result of defence line being too deep so a big gap appeared between def and midfield lines.
Pulisic and Mount took advantage of that space.
Chelsea’s structure isn’t great.
Arsenal should be able to get a goal on the counter.
Auba is causing some problems in the left half space, giving James,azcpli and jorginho issues.
Why not a RED. Luiz got a RED and conceded a pen.
Defo inside. Due to the LEFT hand.
Please boys, my pours are sweaty
some of us have some delayed feeds on here….
VAR has got to be quicker than this
Best hope is too stretch the game. Chelsea want it to be a five-a-side futsal type match.
started outside the box
Banish the missed penalty from Wembley a couple of years ago Auba
That’s a red on Luiz or Holding.
Pepe is going to be quality guys, its inevitable hes got “it”. Key player for us next season just wait.
And Auba
Goalllllll
Get in!!
It’s a red card too
Ref bottled it
I trust Pepe more than Auba
Definite pen
Auba doing the business again
Get in lads.
Squeaky bum time
Drinks break to the rescue again.
Yes, thank goodness
Yes!!!! alright…. new game. Lets GO!!!!
Get in great pen come on my boys
Yup delayed, pen not taken here yet
Yes 1-1
Back in the game.
Come on The Arsenal!!! We can do it!!!
Get in!
Good 10 minute response from the lads, even stevens, let’s fucking have it Arsenal cmon
Are world class hero scores
My feed is like 5 secs delayed
I read it before I saw it
Fuck you. Chelsea and Lampard. We are back. Clock reset.
Our CBs better wake up now and play.
Fuck you Alex cutter
clear goal scoring opp- that should have been a red?!
Seems like we’re about a minute behind on the BBC feed.
Fuck yeahhhhhh
Yes!!!!
David Luiz with a sneaky Knee in the back.. on Giroud..
Fucking Giroud the slimy cunt.
Don’t worry. Giroud always does that. He’d be fine.
Lovely stuff
Normally don’t fancy us in a high scoring match, but Chelsea have conceded more goals than us.
LG
He could go on to emulate Hazard, credit to the lad because I don’t think many had him having such an impact.
Auba absolutely elite at running off defenders.
And very good from the left side in doing it
Giroud is the one backing up to Luiz
Giroud stay down, hope he doesn’t recover
AMN needs to get at azpilecuata now.
Pepe showed his quality with that goal that was called offside
Why did the VAR not reverse the original yellow card decision ?
PEPE’s disallowed goal shows the importance taking shots quickly. Once in range.
Kick ‘em back. Chelsea started fouling
Chelsea looked to have slowed down in midfield after that Kovacic yellow card.
He’s the engine in their midfield.
Plus Arsenal improving themselves
should be a yellow on alonso what a dick
Got to work on azpilacueta and get a second booking out of him…….
Hammy done.
WE
He is similar to hazard in some ways.
Hazard is the better dribbler pulisic the better finisher
Lampard might have an iq above 150 but I hope we make him look stupid today.
chelski pussies- all of em are faking injury
Chelsea weak link is going off …
We are on the up now.
It’s amazing how the game can change so quickly
TR7
Because they claimed Rudiger was covering…
We can do them here. Keep it moving quickly.
Good. Their captain wants an early vacation.
Wenger Eagle
Pulisic has physical similarities to a young Messi. Both very aggressive and can run thru larger defenders
Pulisic doing a decent Hazard impression.
Auba will be in Azicupeta’s head now.
Play on him Auba.
We know you will
Or get him subbed……🤣🤣🤣
Christensen a more refined Holding. Aubameyang and Pépé can run thru him
Both Auba and AMN can attack that side.
Why did the VAR not reverse the original yellow card decision ?
Zouma was a covering defender is the explanation.
Stop talking about that pussy Pulisic!
He is shit….