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
Not many can come on and make a change really.
Eddie no. Willock no. Nelson hummmmm
Saka may be but not in good form
Forget the rest.
Test their goalie. Please.
laca is best in the box despite dropping deep all the time.
The swivel and shot is his niche
Xhaka pressing
Good to see
OMG. Auba.
Hit that first time Auba ffs, Laca dozy git delaying the pass.
Damn.. that looked promising..
Let em off the hook. First threat in 2H
Xhaka with the moon shot lol
Auba jesus!
Why Auba didn’t shoot!
Laca will score the winner
christensen has been better than azpil was.
Might have been better for azpil to stay on as he was a liability today
Need to get Saka on
.passing is becoming sloppy
The chance came from Pepe! Great work today. Hope he turns a corner.
Belloeri8n heading the air. Alonso could have score.
Christensen is better than Apilicueta full stop, latter is completely shot and is a liability back there for them.
WE
Always delays the pass that’s why he will never have the link up play of a firminho he kills so many plays by having his head down not looking up and trying to go it alone before realising he cant
We are showing signs of tiredness already
B careful of alonso. He can score
Saka and Nelson on. No nketiah or willock today pls
LG
Yeah he’s a shoot first type of CF, even if he’s out wide nowhere near goal his first instinct is never to get his head up and look for the pass.
That’s where Firmino and Benzema are elite.
Focus is back it seems.
V open still
Buzzy
“Need to get Saka on
.passing is becoming sloppy”
Who will he replace?
Zhaka and ceba ain’t minding the space they give off at all
We look shattered all of a sudden need to freshen things up mikel
Our game is sussed out by Chelsea
We need to sub in reinforcement. Bellerin and Laca out.
Pedro is fast inspite of his age. Holding is only slightly faster than Laca.
WTF Arteta ?
we are letting them have the ball way too much now
Who blinks first? Arteta or Lampard?
Holy moses, we ain’t good at defending yet we are allowing them in. We need fresh legs now
In that period of the game where Mikel’s management skills come into play and we’re left wanting
We need fresh legs ASAP
Agreed no Eddie and Willock.
But not sure Arteta feels the same.
@Marko, honestly this is when we need arteta’s skills and experience
Arsenal are blowing here, look sapped of energy.
What a boring fucking 2nd half
This is coming down to fitness levels…. at this point. lots of tiredness on both sides. Heopfully our subs can kick us on to a goal.
We have yielded the field to Chelsea, can’t arteta see????
Dunno what he’s waiting for
Laca is finished. Arteta wake up please!!!
Everyone looks shattered let’s hope the lads had their weetabix this morning.
Mount looks like a rat
Arteta is shit at subs. Really needs to sort that out.
Waiting for the drinks break to save us again……………..
Think he might be waiting for water break.
Is anyone even warming up ?
Tierney looks injured ?
Has slowed down
I bet Ozil isn’t watching this final somewhere in Turkey
I love Aubameyang!!!
Fuck You. Chelsea.
2
He is so fucking world class that lad
What a beautiful goal
Aubaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Please we got to hold on to this
AUBA!!!!! The big game player!!!
Get in!!!!!! you fucking beauty!
What a goal!!!!
Please HOLD ON
P L E A S E
Yes!!! Auba deserves a big contract
Great finish.
Credit to Bellerin once again shows balls to do mix it up.
Wow, that came from nowhere. Bellerin good play.
Well done Pepe lad, top assist got his head up and slipped it through at perfect time and weight.
Get in!!!
Kurt Zouma fucking cunted himself 😂😂
Messi esque!
Excellent goal by Auba!!!
Yes!!!!!!!!!
FUCK OFF CHELSKI!!!!!
That was Bellerin driving forward
VAR will review this
Beautiful little dink love him
VAR , don’t even think about it.
Brilliant by Aubameyang and Pepe
Lefty foot!
Christensen needs a yellow
RVP-esque finish.
Yes!!!!
Ok. Mike dean not hiding behind the VAR today.
Bellerin would not pass ,idiot lost the ball Fortunately Pepe got the ball. Auba finished like only he can.
Brilliant from Auba
And big credit to Bellerin for forcing the play on that goal
Bellers keeps trucking on, fans never seem to realise mentality is as important or more so than technique and talent.
Without their captain, Auba has an easier game!
Messi vs Bayern CL.
Need another to kill this scum called “chelsea”
Ceballos reaction when celebrating says it all sign that lad up
FFS! Why still slagging off Bellerin when his run made the goal???
Get over the agenda.
I take it back from Bellerin. That was good!!!
Really top marks to Bellerin for going for that run. Our midfielders never attempt running with the ball.
How’s christen tackle not a yellow?
Auba hat trick to make the day and to sign da ting asap
Counter attack goal as Chelsea were bossing the game there for a long enough period
20 mins of shitting myself now
Honestly if were Arteta…I wouldn’t make any substitution
It’s the last game of the season.Play them till the final whistle goes off.
Bellerin made that.
Good to see him run like that again, that’s like the Bellerin of old.
Bellerin redeems himself.
One moment of courage cutting though the MF
Pepe took over and rest is history.
Now fight for your life and guard the goal!!!
DISS I AGREE
What a goal. I’d give him 350k a week and a 3 year contract. The man is possessed with scoring goals and money won’t change that. FUCKIN HELL!!!
Yeah I been slating bellerin today but he had fucking balls there to push for something to happen.
Also looked fair fast there.
Pepe had a nice bounce touch to take it to the side of the player and then slip it through to auba.
Auba still has plenty to do but he did what world class players do. Worldie goal in a cup final.
Yea Bellerin, driving the ball forward is just what we needed. CHelski didnt expect that
“Need another to kill this scum called “Chelsea”
Your faux-outrage towards fan bases you have had little/no personal contact with is weird.
Kova red….
Sometimes a change can disrupt the flow and understanding
Unless someone can’t run again, save the changes for the last 5 minutes just to waste time and disrupt Chelsea.
Oh yes, gets better this. Kovacic off.