Morning all.
The big day has finally arrived. Arsenal are back at Wembley for the FA Cup Final. Arsenal v’s Chelsea. Mikel Arteta v’s Frank Lampard, Giroud up against his old club. Number 14 Cup up for grabs for Arsenal, for Chelsea, an opportunity to avenge defeat in 2017 and 2002.
Much is being made of this final for Arsenal with certain media outlets linking a win to Aubameyang to an Arsenal stay. I can’t see it making much difference for him or any other player. Either he/they want to be at the club or not and on the other side of the coin, there’ll be certain players who regardless of how they perform later, Mikel Arteta’s decision over their future will not change.
Roughly a year ago, the same two clubs met in the Europa Cup Final. An awful match played by Arsenal. The first half was drab, period. Giroud gave Chelsea, the home club on the night even though it was held in Baku, the lead and once one had gone in, another three soon followed. Iwobi scored our only goal with Pedro and Hazard scoring Chelsea’s.
So much has changed since that awful day. Sarri has been replaced by Frank Lampard, Emery by Mikel Arteta and both teams look different to the ones which lined up against each other back then.
Arsenal: Cech, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Subs: Iwobi, Guendouzi, Willock.
Three from our starting eleven have gone, Ozil is lazing around in the Turkish sunshine apparently and Guendouzi is probably packing his bags, hoping a dream move to Barcelona is close. Sokratis is out of favour and Iwobi is at Everton talking hairstyles with Theo Walcott. Who’d have thought after that night, a year later David Luiz would be lining up to face his old team?
Holding, Tierney, Bellerin, Ceballos, Saka, Pepe weren’t in Baku.
Against Man Utd in the semi-final, Frank Lampard fielded the below eleven.
Caballero, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Alonso, James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount, Willian, Giroud.
Subs: Abraham, Hudson-Odoi, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro.
Lampard’s team stamped their authority in midfield, stopped the supply to the Utd front men and with the help of de Gea and Maguire, scored three goals. No doubt the same principle will be deployed today in attempt to keep Aubameyang and Lacazette quiet. Pepe too. Arsenal have struggled to create numerous chances throughout recent games and Lampard will hope for that to continue today. Azpilicueta V’s Aubameyang could be an interesting battle. I think Arsenal can get some joy against both Chelsea fullbacks if the players are up for it.
Giroud worries me, as does Pulisic who Arsenal players are yet to face. I’d love to see AMN start and stick to the American like glue but I know I’ll be alone with that thought.
Team news:
Cedric Soares is cup-tied. Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, Shkodran Mustafi and Gabriel Martinelli are all injured.
N’Golo Kante and Willian return for Chelsea but Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been ruled out.
Mikel Arteta re his pre-match chat with the players:
I always need to have the feeling of how we are and I need to smell it a little bit. Sometimes I will act in a natural way and sometimes I will have something prepared. But something that is prepared for Saturday when you don’t believe that it’s the right moment to do it, you don’t have to do it.
So I will see tomorrow (today) how we are, what is needed and try to top them up.
The two fixtures Arsenal and Chelsea have played out this season in the league have been close affairs. Bernd Leno played a hand in our defeat at home but in the second fixture at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal showed a bit more character and determination to take something from the game. A red card for a David Luiz during the first half made life difficult for us but despite Chelsea going ahead from the resulting penalty, Gabriel Martinelli equalised quite soon afterwards. Azpilicueta made it 2-1 very late in the game but not quite as late as Hector Bellerin with our equaliser.
But this is an FA Cup Final. Form goes out the window, history does too because it’s a one off. Who wants it more, who’ll fight more from start to finish, who’ll score more when the chances come along. What frame of mind the Arsenal players will be in is anyone’s guess because that’s where this squad is imo. Brilliant one game, sloppy the next. We need the brilliant to turn up today.
It’s last chance saloon for Arsenal as far as European football next season goes. I really hope we don’t blow it!
Enjoy the game guys..
Spot on, Rico 👍 Happy cup final day to you!! I’m excited as well as scared, nervous etc etc haha!!
I can’t even hazard a guess at what the score will be!
The shirt is on.. all that’s left to do is pull the sofa out into it’s normal position on match day 🤣
I have ‘Hot Stuff’ in my head – what would our song have been today, I wonder?!
One more thing:
We love you Arsenal, we do, ooooh Arsenal we love you!! COYG 🏆🤩⚽️🔴 Make us proud!
Morning Sue, all.
I hope you have the day off Sue. Lol
I do indeed, Rico! Lady of leisure 🙂
Morning Sue & rico.
Sue, I love your passion for Arsenal. I’ve also got my shirt on, and singing all stuff Arsenal this morning
My prediction is a draw at full time, and we win on penalties.
COYG
We’ve got them covered!!
Morning all.
3-1 to the good guys!!
Hi there, VCC.. sing a little louder and we’ll hear it 😉
There’ll be a sea of red around the country today, just not at Wembley… not sure my nerves can handle a penalty shoot out haha!! It’s Kanu’s Birthday today – a good omen?! 🙂
Nice article, nerves are definitely high today. Slight mistake- the home defeat to chelsea was under arteta (his first home match), not under emery.
Morning VCc.
I’ve got my lucky coat on. 😆
Good old electricity board, we’ve been having power cuts all morning on and off. Hope they sort the problem out before ko…..
‘morning all. Cup Final day in August, it’s a crazy world that we live in.
As a kid living in Paddington I would get a bus to Wembley on Cup Final day and just wander around the old stadium hoping to get a chance to dodge through the turnstiles, it never happened but I did get close once.
One thing missing today, among many others, is the World of Sport wrestling on the box. Mick McManus and Steve Logan, Jim Brakes, Billy Two Rivers and the Royale Brothers. Ah those were the days. 😉
My best ever Cup Final memory was being behind the goal when Charlie George scored that extra time winner. Fantastic.
Thanks Gg, I’ve amended the post.
I know I’ve told this before, but for those who didn’t know, in Oz we only ever saw one game live on television each year-the Cup Final.
For us, it was bigger than the League.
‘79 remains my first Arsenal memory.
How long have you been down under, Scott?
Oh Rico… power cuts!! 😩 Noooo!!
Scott went down under with Capt Cook I think Sue…
🤣🤣 I had my suspicions, Kev, hahaha!
Rico, Aubamayang wants European football and to win something, who could blame him? Van Persie left for the same reason and won a title with m*n u! Sol crossed the devide to win with Arsenal… it’s not just about loving the club but also ambition. I don’t want any player without ambition in the team but it has to come from the owners as well…
Let’s go f*ck the chavs!
COYG!
What did she wear?
Forgot to say hi to everyone and happy(?) Cup final day…😃
Looking forward to a rousing chorus of “” Stamford Bridge is falling down ” as the wine flows this evening.
Good luck to all of us later .
Strangeman, I’m not convinced being in the Europa League will make a difference to Aubameyang’s decision on whether to stay or not. Where the club are heading longer term might though and whether he wants to be part of that. Like RVP, age is not on Aubameyang’s side at Arsenal if he wants to win more big medals.
If we are going on the “omens” today, then my one is I got my season ticket renewal for DFS come in the post this morning, not sure what kind of omen that means.good or bad?
I will record the game and ask my wife if we won the cup or not without her revealing the score, if we win I shall watch the game “live” !…………………..if we lose, then I shall delete recording!
You may all wonder why I do this………………simple, I have a heart condition and it`s a well known fact that events such as Finals, especially The World Cup, cause more call outs for Ambulances than any other events!……………..I dont want to be one of those a statistics!
Have a good day Gooners and hope the tension and stress doesn`t kill you ! 😆
That’s really cheerful Cocker, thanks for that… 🤔
My stress levels are increasing, I know this as I’m not interested in eating anything.
I’ll be off down to my station soon to get the train to Harold Wood, then a short stroll to my sons’ friends house to watch the game via the offy…
Of course I’ve got my face mask , gloves and hand gel for the train journey and what a fecking joke that is, how on earth did it come to this?
So COYG
Well, I’ve just finished bingeing Good Girls season 3 on Netflix… so now the nerves are kicking in, big time!!
Have a good one, Kev!! 👍
Hi Rico and all I’M going for arsenal 2 chelsea 1 can not wait alarm set for 2am coffee machine set up in lounge and foam ball to throw at tv if we dont turn up to play or give away a stupid penalty
Take some meds, Kev!………………………………I would and could watch the match, but they might not act well with my current meds and I doubt I could talk to a Quack over the phone asking what can I take for a football game! …………………..nowdays you have to speak to the receptionist and explain to them whats wrong before they will give you a telephone appointment, can you imagine……………..Receptionist:…..” what symptons do you have Mr Monster?”…………………………………Me :…..”I shitting bricks about todays FA Cup Final !”………………………………..Receptionist:……….”Fcuk Off!” 😆
Hey Sue, Have you watched The Umbrella Academy …….on netflix?…….seeing as your into Stranger Things!
🤣🤣🤣 what a phone call that’d be, Le Coq… I’m sure you’d bring your abs into it somehow haha!!
No, not seen Umbrella Academy.. the 2and season has just dropped. Have you watched it? I might have a butchers 😉
Yes, I`m on season 2……………………….I still think the best two things I have seen have been on amazon ……..The Boys ( 2nd season Sept` 4th) and Hunters.
Good Boys (film) has just premiered on Sky, it’s bloody hilarious and I can imagine you were just like them when you were that age, Le Coq!!
And from my other comment, I do know how to spell 2nd really 😂
Not long now, seemed like the clock had stopped for a while!! Will you really not watch, Le Coq??
Honestly, Sue, the stress could cause problems and I`m not willing to take the chance, I`m stressed enough without watching it!…………….. my cardio nurse would have a fit! hahaha
I know I probably put it up before, but I have what I call the 7 deadly sins of heart conditions………….
1) Saturated Fat
2) processed Sugar
3) Salt
4) Smoking
5) Alcohol
6) Stress
and 7) which is the one I have added to make up the 7 Deadly Sins is………….Denial!…………because if peop,le do not take heed to the other 6, being in denial will kill you!……………..sorry for the gloom! hahaha
I will have to look up Good Boys……….currently dont have Sky Films……………furlough made us take a serious look at what needed ditching to save money!
TEAM NEWS: Martinez, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Can’t say I blame you, Le Coq, a lot of stress comes with being a gooner!! Hopefully I’ll still be alive at the end of it 🤣
TEAM NEWS:
Martinez, Holding, Luiz, Tierney, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang
I was a bit slow. Lol
Afternoon Rico and the House
Delighted to see AMN in the side James and Mount very fast
Its going to be some battle between them
Last game of the season. A bit sad really!
Go Arsenal. Make us all proud.
Afternoon Rick, me too re AMN. Hope he has a cracking game along with the rest of our boys..
C’mon the Glorious Gunners!
Good setup report rico, afternoon all.
BBC or BT?
Good start , nice of Xhaka to get out of the way
I want to scream already!
Auba… we love you!!
Seen that pull back before Luiz at the bridge of course Luiz went off
Born and bred in Oz, Sue-don’t listen to Kev hahahaha
A few hours kip and didn’t enjoy our start but we’ve worked into the game beautifully.
Come on lads!!!
Hectors pace is returning.
Thanks Andrew.
Have we ever played so many long balls?
So how come you’re a gooner then, Scott?
You’re right about Hector…. and what about Ainsley’s pace?! Wow!!
That was a great half, well the 2nd half of it 😂 Hope we keep it up after the break.
I can’t stand that little sh*t Azpilicueta
I’m watching on BBC… they just showed Wrighty’s reaction to the penalty going in – love it… and the smacked arse look on Cashley’s face – priceless!!
Watching BBC ..Wrighty’s reaction as opposed to Cashley’s when we scored spoke volumes
Beat me to it
The Beeb are being fair today, I reckon the sun has got to them…
Pulisic ff injured that’s a big loss for the Chavs.
Sue,
1977 a new club started in my area.
The Glenquarie Gunners.
Played all my junior football with them.
It just went from there….
Well we were losing on BT and getting overrun so I switched over. It soon changed so sticking with BBC now 😃
Hector is BACK.
What a run, what brilliant work by Pepe and what a finish!!!
World class!!
Nice one, Scott…👍👍
Drinks break takes away momentum and gives Christiensen time to recover
Rob Holding.
Totally under rated imo.
Goes about his business in a quiet manner but is consistent and hard as nails.
My heart just skipped 3 beats.
You’re not the only one, Scott….
Now I’m nervous! Because up against 10, it’s there for the taking. Decisions our way as well.
We are the champions, my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions of the FA Cup!!! 🏆
We’ve only gone and won the 2nd biggest trophy in England!!! Arteta must think this management lark is easy! Yes!!! Sad for Pedro.
I reckon there’s a big fat lady dressed in red and white somewhere who’s about to start singing… 😂😂
Yes 🔔 yes 🔔 yes 🔔🏆🏆🏆
Bloody brilliant!!
Excellent result, bloody excellent!
Don’t like Auba’s comment, but whatever, trophies are so hard to come by, what an end to such an inconsistent season. We like, beat Man City in semi, it’s now become even more of an achievement.
Dont know result but know we won, so I shall now watch “live” stress free!……………………..typical Chav cardboard cut out fans booing the singing of the national anthem!
Go and enjoy it, Le Coq, it was a belter!!!!
Fcuk!………………I hope my wife hasn`t lied to me!
Penalty!!!…………………………Auba yesssssssssss!………………..deservably level…………dirty Chav bastards!
After the season(s) we’ve had, that is very welcome.
Well done everyone at the club.
Does that mean that Spurs have to qualify for Europe?
Having just been peeled off the ceiling I have say I’m feeling very, very proud!
What a result. Whoopee!
Plus we’ve got Thursday football back again, where it belongs!
Brilliant
Thank fcuk Pulisic has gone off, he was beginning to worry me!
Mikel Arteta has been in charge of Arsenal for eight months and has won the same amount of major trophies Spurs have in 21 years 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
It’s hard to pick a MotM, Aubameyang for his two goals, Martinez for a really steady performance, Lacazette for work rate and coping with the Chavez defenders, Xhaka for a calm and tidy game in midfield. All are deserving but the best all round performance was by Dani Ceballos, my Man of the Match. 👑
Aubatasticcccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc!
Off ! you dirty bastard!!
I don’t think so Adam.
Ha ha Sue.
Saw this on Twitter:
Arsenal and Leicester will enter the Europa League at the group stages, scheduled to begin on October 22.
Spurs will enter in the second qualifying round on September 17 and must play three one-off games to reach the group stages.
Pedro being carried off leaving Chavs down to nine men!…………………and the Chav cardboard cut out fans leaving the stadium with the wittiest cardboard cut out fans of Arsenal singing…………” is there a fire drill”………………………..
We are by far the greatest FA Cup team the world has ever seen!
We have won 10% of all FA Cup finals!……………………..Magic Mikel!
Ah, I was wrong then re Toots. Good. 😆
Eddie Howe has ‘left’ Bournemouth 😯
It gets even better hey, Rico 😁👍
yesss!
Unforgettable day!
Arsenal won the F.A. Cup and F.C Porto too!
Charles Watts Twitter:
Arsenal fans gathering outside Wembley waiting for the team bus to depart. Petr Cech has just walked through them, got plenty of cheers and chants of “2-1, to the Arsenal.”
The spuds new kit:
It was revealed that the kits which have been designed by Nike a part of long-term partnership between the US sportswear giant and the Champions League finalists have been made with 100 per cent recycled polyester fabric, which is made from recycled plastic bottles (Spurs official).
😂😂😂 and they call us bottle jobs!!
They’re the gift that keeps on giving 😂😂😂
“Arsenal and Leicester will enter the Europa League at the group stages, scheduled to begin on October 22.
Spurs will enter in the second qualifying round on September 17 and must play three one-off games to reach the group stages.”
😆😆😆😆😆
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8584343/Arsenals-FA-Cup-glory-means-Spurs-face-three-rounds-Europa-League-qualifying-group-stages.html
Is Mikel Arteta the youngest manager to ever win the FACup?
I think we got the run of the green from Taylor-something we hardly ever can say!
However, even when the second yellow was given, we were dominating so the result wouldn’t have changed.
Holding was my unsung hero.
Plenty of fantastic performances but he did some little things that were just superb imo
LC-Mikel has probably even outdone what we’d hoped for when he took over.
A long, long way to go but then, who’d have thought 6 months ago we’d be winning the Cup?
Keep the faith guys 🙂
Enjoyed every minute of the match, the best game I have seen Pepe play shame his goal was off side.
How close was Martinez to the edge of the goal square when he court the ball.
Best of all no injuries looking forward to next season.
Good morning all. I’ve just read the headlines. We did win the cup. It wasn’t all a dream. 😉
It’s a great Sunday Morning Gooders everywhere. FA Cup winners……AGAIN.
What a great win for the good guys, brilliantly orchestrated by our Manager Mikel Arteta.
Plenty of sour grapes coming from the Kings Road.
COYG
@Transfer Checker
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to sign a 3-year contract extension with Arsenal in the coming weeks. #AFC
Bloody hell, do it now!!! 😄
What a feeling, waking up as winners (again!!)
There’s only one thing I can wear today and if it wasn’t so bloody hot, I’d wear my scarf too 😄
Ooh to
Ooh to be
Ooh to be a gooner ❤
Good morning campers, new post up now.