On the pitch at Wembley, Arsenal and Chelsea crossed paths in the FA Cup final. Thanks to a double from Aubameyang, the Gunners won 2-1. A perfect day for them with a trophy won and a ticket to the Europa League next season.
While the Premier League ended last weekend, football was not yet fully finished across the Channel in 2020. On Tuesday night, Brentford and Fulham will cross swords in an attempt to clinch the last ticket to the elite. And on Saturday, two clubs were competing in the FA Cup. In the final, Arsenal and Chelsea faced each other at Wembley for the final game of the 139th edition. In the previous round, the Gunners had eliminated Manchester City (2-0) while the Blues had disposed of Manchester United (3-1). To get the trophy, Mikel Arteta lined up a 3-4-3 with his trio Pépé-Lacazette-Aubameyang in front. Frank Lampard also drew a 3-4-3 and lined up Giroud in attack.
This third showdown of the season between the two teams started strong, especially on the blue side. After the first opportunity for Lacazette (header unframed, 3rd), the Blues responded through Mount (4th) who hit Martinez. But on the next occasion, the Argentine goalkeeper should already bow out. Frank Lampard’s men set the pace and took advantage of the laxity of the opposing defence: Mount, Giroud and Pulisic combined and the American finished the work at point-blank range (5th, 0-1). In a high-rate encounter, the visitors on paper showed better things and Pulisic again created the danger (10th). But after a quarter of an hour of controlled play, the Blues lifted their feet. And the Gunners were taking advantage of it.
Two injured and one evicted at Chelsea
The cool break, around the 22nd minute of play, did the greatest good to Mikel Arteta’s men, who finally got back into their game as soon as the resumption. As Lacazette and his partners pushed into the opposing side, they moved closer to the surface. Pepe even scored a sublime goal, eventually disallowed for an offside from Maitland-Niles (23rd). Regardless, the Gunners were really levelling the game behind. In the duel with Azpilicueta, Aubameyang got a penalty that he converted perfectly, without trembling (28th, 1-1). The Chelsea captain then left his team-leading with an injury, replaced by Christensen (34′). Nothing to disturb the Blues since Jorginho got a great opportunity (35th). But in the game, the Gunners were superior and were pushing again and again.
is the oldest player to score for Arsenal in an FA Cup final since 1932, when Bob John netted for the Gunners against Newcastle (33y 80d). Expertise. #FACupFinal
#ARSCHE
Quite active on his side, the former Lillois Pépé took a few dangerous centers (39th, 41st) but the Blues were just doing well each time. We were then 1-1 in the first half. And unfortunately for Frank Lampard, the second period started badly as Pulisic was also injured and Pedro had to come into play (48th). The Spaniard, who will leave the club after the Champions League, was quickly (breakthrough in the 49th, beautiful movement in the 60th), while Aubameyang missed an opportunity (57th). But the Gabonese did not miss on the next. After a fine action, the former BVB player played Zouma before adjusting Caballero with a stung ball (67th, 2-1).
With that second goal conceded, the Blues had to find the resources to equalise after leading 1-0 early in the game. And the cool break, the second of the match, came at the right time (71st). Unfortunately, the sequel was not glorious for Frank Lampard’s team. Kovacic, who made a slight foul on Xhaka, saw yellow for the second time and had to leave his partners. At ten against eleven, the Blues could no longer create the danger, and the Gunners managed pretty well at the end of the game. The final ended with a sad image with the injury of Pedro to the shoulder, evacuated on a stretcher … Three years after having already won this competition and the Community Shield, Arsenal won the FA Cup 2020 thanks to their 2-1 victory, and will see the Europa League again next season!
