Antonio Conte has already surpassed expectations in his first year as Chelsea manager and a victory in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Arsenal would complete arguably the greatest season in the club’s history. A second Double, following the one completed by Conte’s fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti in 2010, was not even on the radar last August when all the talk was of an expected battle for supremacy between Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. Yet Conte’s side rewrote the script and swept to the Premier League title by seven points from Tottenham Hotspur and are the favourites to round off a remarkable campaign by beating the Gunners at Wembley. [caption id=“attachment_3488363” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa. AFP[/caption] Ancelotti’s powerhouse side, featuring the likes of John Terry, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard, had been favourites for the title and enjoyed a relatively straightforward run to the Cup final where they beat a Portsmouth side who were already relegated. Conte’s side, largely unchanged from the one that finished in a woeful 10th place in the Premier League last season, beat Manchester United in the quarter-finals and title rivals Tottenham in the semis, and now face the competition’s most successful club in the showpiece final. Chelsea skipper John Terry, who will leave the club at the end of the season after 22 years, said that anything other than a win would tarnish their achievements. “You work all season long to be where you want to be and lift that trophy so the lads are fully focused,” five-times Cup winner Terry, who is likely to be on the bench on Saturday, told a news conference on Wednesday. “I’ve been on the receiving end of losing Cup finals and it’s not a nice feeling on the last day of the season.” While Chelsea are one win away from the Double, Arsenal are desperately trying to end the season on a high after finishing fifth in the Premier League - their lowest finish since Arsene Wenger arrived in north London in 1996. Arsenal have won the competition twice in the last three seasons but on both occasions they had also sealed Champions League qualification after a top-four finish. This time lifting the trophy would be a “consolation” in what could still turn out to be Wenger’s last in charge. “Would it be a nice farewell? No, what I want is to win the next game. It’s not about me, it’s about us winning the trophy and giving everything to achieve it,” Wenger, whose future has clouded much of Arsenal’s season, said on Wednesday. While Chelsea finished 18 points ahead of Arsenal in the table despite suffering a 3-0 defeat at the Emirates in the early weeks of Conte’s tenure, a one-off final on the wide expanses of Wembley’s lush turf looks hard to call. Sizzling temperatures are expected on Saturday which could potentially help Arsenal’s creative players, although Wenger is faced with a shortage of defenders with Laurent Koscielny suspended and Gabriel ruled out injured. Should Arsenal wreck Chelsea’s Double bid it would be Wenger’s seventh FA Cup - matching the number of times Chelsea have lifted the trophy in their history. “I want to win the cup because I think the team has redressed very well the situation on the sporting side,” said Wenger, whose side won their last five league games. It would be a good crowning of what we have done in the last two months." With inputs from Reuters
Highlights FA Cup final, Arsenal vs Chelsea, football scores and results: Arsenal clinch title for record 13th time with 2-1 win over Chelsea
Check all the live scores and updates of the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Chelsea as the Gunners eye a record 13th title against Premier League champions Chelsea.
 "Highlights FA Cup final, Arsenal vs Chelsea, football scores and results: Arsenal clinch title for record 13th time with 2-1 win over Chelsea")
Third time in four years….
The #EmiratesFACup trophy belongs to @Arsenal! ???? pic.twitter.com/ELaSU1OqDe
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 27, 2017
The importance of Alexis Sanchez:
Alexis Sanchez across all competitions for Arsenal this season:
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 27, 2017
51 games 🏃
30 goals ⚽️
15 assists 🅰️
Priceless contribution. pic.twitter.com/eOc8mYrohg
Is Wenger going to stay then?
???????????? #emiratesfacup pic.twitter.com/HXAZYH17nN
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 27, 2017
THIS is what it means ???? #WeAreTheArsenal pic.twitter.com/3u3DOMIG5m
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 27, 2017
Per Mertesacker for Arsenal in 2016/17:
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 27, 2017
Games started 1
Trophies lifted: 1
A massive performance. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/plyIUOrTk1
What a stunning final! Arsene Wenger wins the FA Cup for a record 7th time — in fabulous style. Arsenal never cease to amaze. So what does the #WengerOut brigade say to such a vintage performance?
THIS IS JUST AMAZING!
CHAMPIONS! #Arsenal lift the #FACup title for third time in four years after 2-1 win over #Chelsea. #ARSvCHEhttps://t.co/3Utu5aXoQ4 pic.twitter.com/tyoeN4Fsoc
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) May 27, 2017
ARSENAL ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE FA CUP FOR THE 13TH TIME!
There it is then. Nothing but a simply exciting final comes to an end as Arsenal lift their 13th FA Cup, third in four years. Wenger will put his hands on the seventh, not bad for a manager who has been on the wrong end of the stick in recent times.
It has been an up-and-down season for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger and after all the criticism he has taken this season, it is a great sight to see him smiling. Conte, too, acknowledges Wenger’s win there. Arsenal were just beyond fantastic tonight. This is what a comprehensive win looks like.
90’ Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
A nervy moment there for Arsenal’s defence as Mitchy Batshuayi makes a superb run through the middle but the ball goes out for a corner. Arsenal need to get their rhythm back. Giroud drifts in on the edge of Courtios’s box and finds Ramsey, whose shot did not cause any trouble. Chelsea will have four minutes to save themselves.
85’ Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
Chelsea are not going to give up here. Good movement in the middle as Kante gets room to take a shot from distance. But, nothing happening for them at the moment. Costa comes out of nowhere to smack one past Mertesacker but how has Ospina kept that out?
What an impact, @_OlivierGiroud_ 🙌
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 27, 2017
Oli has just replaced Welbz and crosses for @aaronramsey to head home!#AFCvCFC 🔴 2-1 🔵 (79) pic.twitter.com/aKwfsAMCxx
79’ Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
OUT OF NOTHING, AGAIN! This time it’s Aaron Ramsey who slots home with a downward header! Olivier Giroud sets Sanchez to the left and immediately passes it to Ramsey.
75’ Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
AND DIEGO COSTA SCORES OUT OF NOTHING! Chelsea are not going to look behind as they attack despite being a man down. Willian has dropped deep since coming on. He taps it to his right, past Holding as the ball takes a nick off Mertesacker. A big defection deceives Ospina but he knows he should’ve been done better. Costa is the fox in the box!
GOAL!!! pic.twitter.com/h8MsU3cFdA
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 27, 2017
75’ Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
AND DIEGO COSTA SCORES OUT OF NOTHING! Chelsea are not going to look behind as they attack despite being a man down. Willian has dropped deep since coming on. He taps it to his right, past Holding as the ball takes a nick off Mertesacker. A big defection deceives Ospina but he knows he should’ve been done better. Costa is the fox in the box!
5 - Victor Moses is the fifth player to be sent off in an FA Cup final (Smalling 2016, Zabaleta 2013, Reyes 2005, Moran 1985). Dismissed.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 27, 2017
65’ Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea are finding it difficult to find spaces in the middle as Ramsey and Welbeck’s combination has left Kante and Fabregas exasperating. Courtois palms Bellerin’s low shot away and there goes another chance for Arsenal. Will Fabregas change the shape of Arsenal’s resilient back three.
What an impact, @_OlivierGiroud_ 🙌
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 27, 2017
Oli has just replaced Welbz and crosses for @aaronramsey to head home!#AFCvCFC 🔴 2-1 🔵 (79) pic.twitter.com/aKwfsAMCxx
65’ Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea are finding it difficult to find spaces in the middle as Ramsey and Welbeck’s combination has left Kante and Fabregas exasperating. Courtois palms Bellerin’s low shot away and there goes another chance for Arsenal. Will Fabregas change the shape of Arsenal’s resilient back three.
60’ Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
One may argue that Arsenal should have scored three or four on the night. And that’s some brilliance from Ozil on the right-hand side. That drop of the shoulder is worth every penny Arsenal paid for him. Cahill must be fuming right now.
55’ Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Arsenal have recovered well after inviting pressure from Chelsea in the early stages of the second half. Moses was booked as Welbeck was fouled on the left flank just when he had the control.
50’ Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea are getting ahead in numbers and that has troubled Arsenal in the start of the second half. Looks like they have had a hairdryer from Conte in the dressing room. Kante receives the ball and shoots from distance. The ball takes a wicked deflection but lands safely in Ospina’s territory.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
And that’s that for the first half. Arsene must be really happy with his players as he makes his way into the tunnel for a small chat before the come out to fight in the second half. Sanchez’s lead in the fifth minute has done the damage but they should have been leading by two. But, Arsenal still have to keep their noses in front in the second half. Chelsea were getting into the groove on the half hour mark but were unable to find Costa. Let’s see what’s in store for us in the second half.
40’ Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea
It’s all looking fine for Wenger’s men at the moment. They have till now covered every inch of the grass and have created more than Chelsea. Sounds absurd, isn’t it? Arsenal now concede a clumsy free kick from outside 30 yards or so. Oh and Costa spoils the opportunity as he gets penalised for a foul inside the box. That’s a waste.
WWE SummerSlam 2025 Night 2 results: Cody Rhodes beats John Cena in wild title match
Brock Lesnar's return headlines Night Two of WWE Summerslam Cody Rhodes defeats John Cena to become the Undisputed WWE Champion Becky Lynch defeats Lyra Valkyria to stay Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
More Impact Shorts "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
 "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Sanchez-Costa.jpg){kind=link}
Top Shows
