Advertisement

Arsenal vs Chelsea, FA Cup final 2020: What time is kick-off today, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

Arsenal vs Chelsea, FA Cup final 2020: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? -  Getty Images 
Arsenal vs Chelsea, FA Cup final 2020: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - Getty Images

What is it?

The 2020 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea. The 139th time the event has been held, for those who are counting. Arsenal have won the competition more times than any other team (13) with Chelsea in third with eight wins.

It's also a repeat of the 2016-17 final, where Arsenal won 2-1.

When is it?

Today, so Saturday - August 1. Delayed because of Covid-19, but going ahead with a new slot in the calendar.

What time is kick-off?

It's a 5.30pm BST start at Wembley Stadium.

What TV channel is it on?

You have a choice of BBC and BT. It's on BBC One, BT Sport 1, BT Sport Extra 1, BT Sport Ultimate, BBC iPlayer.

Alternatively, you can follow all the action here with Telegraph Sport, with live score updates and in-game analysis.

Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates Chelsea's semi-final win - REUTERS
Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates Chelsea's semi-final win - REUTERS

What is the team news?

Arsenal

Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns. The Gunners will be without defender Shkodran Mustafi, who underwent surgery on a hamstring issue suffered in the semi-final win over Manchester City.

Cedric Soares is cup-tied and misses out as do Pablo Mari (ankle), Gabriel Martinelli and Calum Chambers (both knee) - goalkeeper Bernd Leno is fit following his own knee injury but head coach Mikel Arteta has said Emiliano Martinez will start.

Arsenal provisional squad: Martinez, Macey, Leno, Bellerin, Sokratis, Luiz, Holding, Kolasinac, Tierney, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Ozil, Nelson, Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah.

Chelsea

Ruben Loftus-Cheek will miss the showpiece after picking up a minor injury in training on Thursday.

Chelsea's luckless England midfielder had fought his way back to full fitness after a number of issues this term, but will now miss the Wembley contest.

N'Golo Kante is fit after hamstring trouble, while Willian is back having missed Sunday's 2-0 win over Wolves with an ankle complaint.

Chelsea provisional squad: Caballero, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Giroud, Pulisic, Kepa, Christensen, Barkley, Abraham, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi, Tomori, Emerson, Kante, Willian.

What are they saying?

Mikel Arteta after beating Man City in the semi-final:

"We are really happy with what has happened in the last four or five days," added former City assistant Arteta.

"To beat probably the best two teams in Europe is the nicest thing to do so credit to the players for what they are doing, their performances and the level of fight they are showing.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates during the FA Cup semi-final win over Man City - AP
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates during the FA Cup semi-final win over Man City - AP

Frank Lampard after the semi-final win over Manchester United:

Asked if a third-place Premier League finish and an FA Cup victory would represent a very good first season at the Stamford Bridge helm, he said: "I hope so because we want to win things, and at the start of the season we wanted to be up there challenging for the top four.

"A lot of people were tipping against us, but quietly I was always hoping.

"I don't want to put everything on these three games defining everything we've done and the progress we've made, but of course we want top four, we want trophies and we're at the business end, so let's see."

How did each team reach the final?

Arsenal

  • Third round - Arsenal 1 Leeds United 0

  • Fourth round - Bournemouth 1 Arsenal 2

  • Fifth round - Portsmouth 0 Arsenal 2

  • Quarter-finals - Sheffield United 1 Arsenal 2

  • Semi-finals - Arsenal 2 Man City 0

Chelsea

  • Third round - Chelsea 2 Nottingham Forest 0

  • Fourth round - Hull 1 Chelsea 2

  • Fifth round - Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0

  • Quarter-finals - Leicester 0 Chelsea 1

  • Semi-finals - Man Utd 1 Chelsea 3

What are the odds?

  • Arsenal - 23/20

  • Chelsea - 23/10

  • Draw at 90 mins - 12/5

What's our prediction?

Both teams come into this match off the back of Premier League wins, while both have very good FA Cup records. It is likely to be tight, with Chelsea the slight favourites - perhaps by a goal in normal time.

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2