Buaksib Asia presents the 2019/2020 Emirates FA Cup Final preview and predictions. Highlighting the upcoming Final FA Cup match between Arsenal VS Chelsea on 1st August 2020.
Arsenal Vs. Chelsea
After a disappointing league season, Arsenal can still claim a European place after making a record 21st FA Cup final. Winners of the most-ever titles in this competition (13), Arsenal will be gunning to avenge last season’s Europa League final humiliation at the hands of London rivals Chelsea, boosted by a two from two records in FAC final H2Hs. Both of those two H2H FAC finals saw Arsenal score first and net precisely two goals – the same scenario seen in each of their four prior rounds of the FAC this season, three of which saw their goals split evenly between halves. Indeed, 16 of Arsenal’s 20 FAC final games (incl. 1 x replay) to see goals, saw the eventual winner net first.
Chelsea
No strangers to this cup final themselves, Chelsea have claimed seven of their eight FAC crowns from 1996/97 onwards, with their last six final successes coming via a slim one-goal margin. Each of their five historical FAC final losses saw them concede first. With Chelsea also scoring first in each of their five FAC games this season, and in their last 14 competitive wins this campaign, something has to be given here, with the first goal likely key to the trophy’s destination. On the flip side, however, the two league H2Hs saw the team that scored first fail to win. That’s also true of five of the last 11 competitive H2Hs overall datings back to the previous H2H FAC final in 2017, a run of games that finds Arsenal edge, Chelsea, with four wins to three. Only two of those 11 games saw a margin of victory greater than one goal.
Players to watch: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 11 match openers for Arsenal this season, including once versus Chelsea. Meanwhile, Jorginho has scored six penalties this season for Chelsea and netted in both prior H2Hs versus Arsenal.
Stat attack: The last three FAC H2Hs have ended 2-1, either way.
Twenty-two of Arsenal’s 45 domestic games this season featured a 1-0 HT scoreline, either way.
Chelsea netted first in 32 of their 45 domestic games this season.