Sure Prediction For Today, Saturday 1st August 2020

Playing the role of fast-breaking counter-attackers, Arsenal has churned out some unexpected results since the restart, and Arteta will likely lean on the same tactical strategy for their Wembley date with Chelsea.

Chelsea, who will be appearing in their third FA Cup Final in four seasons this weekend, enjoyed a much more productive Premier League campaign than Arsenal, finishing 4^th ahead of Leicester City to book their place in next year’s Champions League.

With their younger players continuing to shine, and ex-Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud developing into a talismanic figure since the restart, Chelsea have coped well with the pressure of chasing success on multiple fronts, winning eight of their 11 games since the resumption of play last month.

Blues boss Frank Lampard, who won the FA Cup four times with Chelsea during his playing days, will be desperate to lift the same trophy in his first season back at the club as manager, though the former England international would have been concerned by his team’s defensive performances during Project Restart.

Chelsea kept just three clean sheets in the 11 matches they contested since June 21 and shipped two or more goals in 50% of their most recent six assignments. Recent meetings between Arsenal and Chelsea have produced enough fireworks to indicate Saturday’s final should be a thrilling affair.

Both of the teams’ Premier League encounters this season had enough moments of excitement to fill half a dozen fixtures, with over 2.5 goals plundered in each contest.

A late Hector Bellerin effort allowed Arsenal to snatch a 2-2 draw when the teams last played at Stamford Bridge in January, while an equally late double from Jorginho and Tammy Abraham allowed the Blues to overturn a one-goal deficit at the Emirates when the rivals faced off just after Christmas.

The last five skirmishes between the big hitters from the capital, in fact, delivered an average of 3.8 goals per 90 minutes – a figure that Chelsea’s 4-1 Europa League Final triumph over the Gunners last year helped to build, and all the indicators point to their latest tussle in Saturday’s Final being equally dramatic.

Chelsea’s penchant for mixing some haphazard defending with the excellent attacking play has led to plenty of enthralling games featuring the Blues since the restart. Over 2.5 goals were registered in eight of the club’s last 11 matches, and the same market is favoured for Saturday’s crucial cup final clash.

Our correct score prediction, which forecasts a 2-1 Chelsea win, backs the Blues to lift their 9^th FA Cup this weekend, however.

With two wins in their last three tussles with Arsenal, Chelsea seems to have the edge over their opponents, and with the momentum gained by their Champions League qualification adding to their confidence, the Blues can outscore the Gunners at Wembley.

Chelsea scored exactly two goals in each of their last two confrontations with Arsenal, and another brace on Saturday should allow them to lift another trophy at their rival’s expense. Veteran French striker Olivier Giroud has emerged as a talismanic figure for Chelsea during Project Restart.

The French World Cup winner has notched seven times in 11 appearances for the Blues since mid-June, with many of Giroud’s goals providing match-defining moments.

The 33-year-old will line up against his old employer’s Arsenal in this weekend’s FA Cup Final, and Giroud’s nose for the big occasion makes him a prime candidate to be a goal-scoring hero for Frank Lampard again.

Long-term absentees Gabriel Martinelli, Calum Chambers, Pablo Mari, and Shkodran Mustafi are all still absent for Arsenal, while Cedric Soares is cup-tied and cannot play.

First choice stopper Bernd Leno returned to training this week, though the German probably won’t be fit enough to feature. Out of favour duo, Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi are still out in the cold and won’t be involved.

Predicted Arsenal line-up: Martinez – Holding, Luiz, Tierney – Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka – Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Billy Gilmour is Chelsea’s only confirmed absentee, while the returning N’Golo Kante should be fit enough to take a place on the bench at least.

Brazilian winger Willian is unlikely to play given his imminent move to Arsenal, while Willy Caballero is expected to continue in goal ahead of the unreliable Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Predicted Chelsea line-up: Caballero – Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger – James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso – Mount, Pulisic, Giroud

Prediction: Our prediction is an away win or a draw for Chelsea