The FA Cup Final is almost here. It is one of the great days in the English footballing calendar and is looked forward to by millions, not only in England but by fans and countries from around the world. Here is your 2015 FA Cup Final preview.
This Saturday, Arsenal, who finished the Premier League season in third, take on Aston Villa, who finished seventeenth. Arsenal will be favourites amongst almost everyone apart from Villa fans. Will Arsenal succeed as many are predicting? Or can Aston Villa upset the odds once more just like in the semi-final against Liverpool?
Aston Villa have a team under the guidance of manager Tim Sherwood who can play well and dig out results. Since Sherwood’s arrival, Christian Benteke has rediscovered his goalscoring touch. In Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor, Villa have excellent pace up front. Midfielders Fabian Delph and ex-Manchester United man Tom Cleverley can, on their day, dictate play brilliantly from the midfield, and the two have proven themselves to be useful in the goalscoring department, too.
Perhaps Villa’s biggest star is Jack Grealish. The Irishman is eye-catching enough with his hair and low socks, but his play, particularly in the second half of the season has been nothing short of sensational. It seems that he has a bright future ahead of him, and starting his career off with an FA Cup title would be the stuff of dreams.
The Villains have a potent strikeforce and strong midfield, but it is in defence where the problem could lie. Coming up against Arsenal’s pace could prove to be a problem as Villa’s defence is not gifted with pace. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan lost his place after some less than convincing displays to the dependable veteran Shay Given. However, Given is a doubt for the final due to injury. After losing their final two Premier League games 6-1 and 1-0, Tim Sherwood will be hoping to have a fully fit squad at his disposal.
At the time of writing Arsenal have no such worries. They signed off the Premier League Campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Arsene Wenger’s biggest headache seems to be whether to keep Theo Walcott, who scored an excellent first half hat-trick on Sunday, in the team or return Olivier Giroud to the starting line-up. With Arsenal finishing off their season convincingly and cementing third place in the league after some mixed results of late, they will be hoping they have enough about them to dispose of a Villa team lacking in confidence at the back. With the attacking options of Walcott, Giroud, Sanchez, Cazorla and company any team can struggle against them when they are on their game, especially if it becomes a free flowing game. If that’s the case Aston Villa could find Arsenal almost impossible to play against.
Even though both teams ply their trade in the Premier League, to varying degrees of success, Aston Villa are classed as the underdogs. This may prove to be to their advantage. No pressure can equal less anxiety, which in turn can equal more relaxed players and therefore a better performance. That’s the theory, anyway.
It’s not that unusual for the underdogs to triumph in the final of this competition. The competition as a whole and not just the final itself is known for its magic and giant killing. The final though has given its fair share of surprises.
In 1973, Sunderland, then in the old Division Two (now known as the Championship), were given no chance against the then mighty Leeds United. Sunderland won 1-0. Southampton playing in the second tier of English football at the time overcame Manchester United 1-0 in 1976. West Ham United, like Sunderland and Southampton were playing in the old Second Division when they defeated odds on favourites Arsenal 1-0 in 1980. In the 1980s in particular endless cup final upsets occurred, and they still happen today. Only two years ago Wigan Athletic, days before being relegated from the Premier League, beat moneybags Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup.
It can be done and looking at the times when the “underdog” has been victorious they have usually had to keep a clean sheet to do it and have won by a solitary goal. This therefore is where Aston Villa will have to be at their best; in defence. They must keep it tight, frustrate the likes of Walcott and Sanchez and hit Arsenal on the break in the hope of getting a goal and then, as the old saying goes, “shut up shop”.
Leading up to the game everything points to an Arsenal victory and the cup staying in North London. However, this is the FA Cup and anything can happen. Aston Villa, don’t forget, are a Premier League team and must not be counted out. Come kick-off they will be wanting some of the magic of the FA Cup to be on their side. Arsenal will be hoping for a less eventful affair than the final last year, and to take the cup back to the Emirates once again. However, if Arsenal believe their name is on the cup already then they may be in for a shock.
