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While the Gunners will be forced to field a depleted side, Chelsea have no notable injuries or suspensions, barring the young Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
It is a rare feat for a team to be able to pinpoint a particular moment in a season, which would define how they went on to win the tournament. For newly crowned Premier League champions Chelsea, the whistle that commenced the second half of the away match against Arsenal, unarguably flagged off the team's title charge.
Eight months after Chelsea coach Antonio Conte introduced a new system at the club, after trailing 3-0 in the first half of their league match, his side now face their bitter red London neighbours in the FA Cup final.
The word "champions" will evoke different reactions from fans of Chelsea and Arsenal—happiness for the former and despair for the latter. While the Blues were crowned champions of England, Arsenal were booted out of next season's Champions League.
Although Chelsea have won eight of their last 11 meetings with Arsenal, the latter's impressive semifinal performance against a far superior Manchester City has sent out a warning sign.
Arsenal had upset City 2-1, with Nacho Monreal and Alexis Sanchez scoring the crucial goals. The victory gave the Gunners some hope of finishing their disappointing season with some silverware. A win for them tonight will make it their third FA cup victory in three years.
Chelsea had thumped a hapless Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in the semifinal that is best remembered for Nemanja Matic's stunning long ranger.
The Gunners will be forced to field a depleted side in the final. They will be without Santi Cazorla, Gabriel and the suspended Laurent Koscielny, while Kieran Gibbs and Skhodran Mustafi are doubtful.
Chelsea have no notable injuries or suspensions, barring the young Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Conte will field a starting 11 that has scarred many a team over the season.
The only position he might have to give some thought is the one that will partner PFA player of the year N'Golo Kante. Former Arsenal man Cesc Fabregas has repeatedly shown glimpses of his true potential, giving stiff competition to Nemanja Matic for the centre midfield role.
Petr Cech—another former player who was expected to face his old club—has been surprisingly dropped for the final. The decision was made to honour the club's pre-season agreement with back-up goalkeeper David Ospina that he would play in cup competitions.
Chelsea players during a training session ahead of the FA cup final | Reuters
The match could be the final game for talismanic attackers Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez, both of whom are expected to leave their respective clubs this summer.
Arsenal, who finished outside the top four for the first time since 1998, are hoping to gain some consolation by winning the lesser important FA Cup. It will, in all probability, be the match that decides Arsene Wenger's fate at the club, in what has been his worst season during his 20-year reign at Arsenal.
Though the chants for Arsene Wenger's removal have reached the highest possible decibel, a win for him would make him the first manager, in the competition's 145-year history, to win the cup seven times.
Chelsea will be hoping to clinch its first domestic double since 2010. The last time Chelsea won the double, the team was guided by an Italian (Carlo Ancelotti) in his first season at the club. A case of deja vu, perhaps, for them under Conte?
Match: Arsenal vs Chelsea
Time: 10:00pm
Channel: Sony Six & HD; Sony ESPN & HD
