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Arsenal vs Chelsea FA Cup final as it happened: Aaron Ramsey winner seals dramatic victory for Gunners
Re-live the FA Cup final at Wembley
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal face Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup final, with Antonio Conte's side looking to the Double while Arsène Wenger's men attempt to salvage their season.
- Arsene Wenger to drop Petr Cech and start David Ospina for Arsenal's FA Cup final against Chelsea
- Chelsea boss Antonio Conte doesn't think FA Cup final will be Arsene Wenger's last game in charge of Arsenal
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hoping to cast aside injury concerns and finally play his part in Arsenal FA Cup final
- Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal are in defensive crisis and tips Shkodran Mustafi to miss FA Cup final
- Antonio Conte wants to stay at Chelsea 'for many years' as club prepare lucrative new contract offer
What time does it start?
Arsenal vs Chelsea kicks off at 5.30pm BST.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BBC One and BT Sport 2, with coverage starting at 2.00pm and 4.30pm respectively.
Highlights will be shown at 11.35pm BST on BBC One.
Preview
Antonio Conte’s Blues are looking to wrap up a glorious league and cup double, having amassed 93 points and won 30 of their 38 matches in their title-winning campaign. Victory at Wembley over their old London rivals would be the cherry on the cake of a fine first season in charge at Stamford Bridge for the Italian manager.
The Gunners meanwhile are in unchartered territory under Arsene Wenger, having recently missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 21 years. Uncertainty remains over the Frenchman’s future at the Emirates, with a decision to be announced after this final.
The 67-year-old would dearly love to claim a record seventh FA Cup triumph of his long Arsenal tenure, but even victory would not be enough to appease a growing number of Gunners fans frustrated with the lack of a genuine Premier League or Champions League challenge in recent years.
It’s a big game for…
Alexis Sanchez: In what could be the Chilean’s last match for Arsenal, the Gunners’ hopes of securing the silverware are likely to rest on the shoulders of the 28-year-old.
Sanchez has made no secret of his ambition to win medals and has even been linked with a transfer to Saturday’s opponents.
Best stat
11: The number of combined consecutive matches won by Chelsea and Arsenal, making them the Premier League’s two form teams. The Blues have won their last six to cruise to the title, while Arsenal missed out on the top four despite tasting victory in their final five games of the season.
Remember when
The last time these sides faced off in the FA Cup was also at Wembley. On that occasion, Didier Drogba’s late winner clinched a 2-1 semi-final win for the Blues, who went on to beat Everton in the final in 2009.
Player to watch
Cesc Fabregas: The 30-year-old began the season on the periphery of the Chelsea first team but has forced his way firmly back into Conte’s thinking.
In the middle of a fine run of form, the Spaniard could come back to haunt his former club.
Past three-meetings
Chelsea 3 Arsenal 1
Premier League, February 2017
Arsenal 3 Chelsea 0
Premier League, September 2016
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 1
Premier League, January 2016
Form
Arsenal: LWWWWW
Chelsea: WWWWWW
Odds
Odds provided by 888 Sport
Arsenal to win: 37/10
Chelsea to win: 3/4
Draw: 14/5
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of this year's FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea.
The two London rivals meet at Wembley in English football's annual showpiece, entering the tie after very different seasons.
While Antonio Conte's Chelsea saw off all before them to clinch the Premier League title in the Italian's debut season, Arsene Wenger's side finished outside of the Champions League qualification places for the first time in 20 years.
Arsenal need a victory today to salvage their season, but they are the underdogs against a ruthless Chelsea who will be determined to do the Double.
We'll have team news, updates and build-up from 3.00pm. For now, check out all the vital information below...
Team news:
Laurent Koscielny is suspended today following a reckless lunge into Everton’s Enner Valencia, so Arsenal will line-up without their skipper.
Gabriel Paulista is also out of action today with a knee ligament injury following an incident during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory against Everton. The defender is set to be out for six-to-eight weeks, meaning he may miss the start of pre-season.
Kieran Gibbs has been nursing a thigh injury, so it is unknown as to whether he will be fit today. Shkodran Mustafi is also struggling with his fitness ahead of the fixture.
However, it is a different story for Chelsea. Antonio Conte has the pleasure of picking from an array of fully-fit players. It will be interesting to see whether the boss choses Cesc Fabregas to face his former-side, or will he chose a defensive approach with Nemanja Matic? We’ll see.
Arsenal have endured a difficult season and despite a late rally failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in Wenger's 21-year tenure. The speculation continues surrounding Wenger's future at the club, but a win today could surely secure his safety for another campaign.
Read more in the piece below:
The 22-year-old took the brunt of his own fans’ frustration during the dreadful 3-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace, which ultimately cost them a place in the Premier League top four for the first time in 20 years.
Read more in the piece below:
The boss is ready to sign an extension to his contract, although the club are now expected to give the title-winning a manager a higher-paid new deal after Saturday’s FA Cup final with Arsenal. This new contract will make him the highest-paid manager in club's history.
Read more in the piece below:
It was during Chelsea’s impressive 3-1 triumph over Arsenal, early in February, that Eden Hazard confirmed what many of us already knew. Picking the ball up on the halfway line, the Belgian left a trail of Gunners in his wake as he weaved his way past the visitors’ feeble defence, making a mockery of Laurent Koscielny not once but twice as he did so, before calmly beating Petr Cech.
Read more in the piece below:
Antonio Conte’s men enter the fixture as firm favourites, as they look to secure the double following a remarkable Premier League season.
After failing to secure their position in next seasons Champions League, The Gunners will be looking to redeem some order within a somewhat floundering Arsenal side. The speculation continues surrounding the future of Arsene Wenger at the club, but if they win today then no doubt he will stay at the Emirates for the foreseeable future.
Costa considers a move away from Chelsea
Todays fixture could be the last game for Diego Costa in Chelsea colours, following reports that the club are willing to listen to large offers for the Spaniard - with a number of clubs already voicing their interest in the striker.
After scoring the title winning goal at The Hawthorns, Michy Batshuayi is beginning to prove himself as an apt replacement for Costa. However, Conte is always hesitant to switch up a successful side, which means that a disgruntled Costa has cemented his position in the starting XI. The departure of the striker will allow for the fellow strikers to prove their capability within the title winning side.
Costa’s explosive temper has always been a flaw within his game, which also caused a stir at the training ground this season. The Spaniard lost his temper with teammate Nathaniel Chalobah last October at the training ground which certainly ruffled a few feathers within the side
