Arsenal v Chelsea in the FA Cup Final: Five previous encounters

Saturday’s FA Cup Final will be the third occasion that Arsenal have faced Chelsea in the showpiece event. However, the world’s oldest cup competition is not the only one to have hosted this London derby in the final. Let’s look back at some of these teams’ previous meetings as they have bid for silverware.

Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea – FA Cup Final, 2002

It had been almost four years since the Gunners had last lifted any silverware but they came into this match top of the Premier League and on course to repeat their “Double” feat of 1998. Just a year earlier Arsene Wenger’s side had gone ahead in the final courtesy of a Freddie Ljungberg goal, only to lose their lead to Liverpool. Chelsea were seeking their second FA Cup in three seasons, having won it in 2000.

The first half went by without incident, save for a couple of wayward Arsenal headed attempts. Chelsea’s chances were then dealt a major blow midway through the second half, as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink succumbed to injury and had to be replaced.

Just moments later they found themselves behind. Ray Parlour collected a pass from Patrick Vieira and carried the ball forward before unleashing a shot from 25 yards that Carlo Cudicini could only help into the top corner. Ten minutes on the Gunners sealed the win as Ljungberg shrugged aside John Terry and beat Cudicini from the edge of the area.

Four days later Wenger took his side to Old Trafford, where they defeated Manchester United to secure the league title and another “Double”.

Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal – League Cup Final, 2007

The last English cup final to be played at the Millenium Stadium was a fiery affair. Jose Mourinho fielded a strong line-up, with Petr Cech in goal and Andriy Shevchenko starting alongside Didier Drogba in attack. Wenger, on the other hand, showed faith in the inexperienced side that had reached the final. Seven of his starting 11 were aged 22 or younger, including four teenagers. If ever a team sheet reflected the managers’ philosophies, it was here.

Twelve minutes in and the youngest player on the field had his name on the scoresheet. Theo Walcott broke through the Chelsea backline to score his first goal for the Gunners. It was not long, however, before parity was restored as Drogba equalised from close range. Both sides pushed in the second half before Abou Diaby attempted a clearance, only for his boot to connect with the onrushing John Terry’s head. The Chelsea skipper was knocked unconscious by the collision and had to be taken to hospital.

The England defender was therefore unable to witness his side’s winner, as Drogba again beat Almunia with just six minutes remaining. Emotions then boiled over in injury time. A confrontation between Kolo Toure and John Obi Mikel led to a wider brawl between the two sets of players, resulting in both players’ dismissal as well as a red card for substitute Emmanuel Adebayor.

Whilst he had netted against the Gunners in the previous season, this was the game that gave Drogba his reputation as Arsenal’s tormentor. Chelsea went on to win the first major final at the new Wembley just months later, with the Ivorian the matchwinner again as Manchester United were defeated in the FA Cup.

Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea - Community Shield, 2015

Whilst neither a final nor a contest for major silverware per se, this season curtain raiser certainly felt more important than in previous years. Mourinho had returned to west London and led Chelsea to a league title in his second season, while the Gunners had lifted successive FA Cups to end a nine-year trophy drought. Furthermore, Blues legend Cech had just moved across the capital to join the Gunners. Many commented that the outcome of this clash could indicate the destination of the 2015/16 Premier League title.

Cech did indeed start that afternoon, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Alexis Sanchez in the only other change to the side that had won the FA Cup nine weeks earlier. In fact, it was the England winger who struck the game’s only goal, too, cutting in from the right and firing past Thibaut Courtois. It was the first time Arsenal had scored against the Blues since Mourinho’s return – in their sixth meeting.

The victory also marked Wenger’s first-ever win over his old adversary. The two managers did not shake hands at full time, leading to media speculation that their intense rivalry would be renewed in the coming campaign. The result was somewhat a sign of things to come; Mourinho was sacked shortly before Christmas with Chelsea 16th in the league standings, just a point above the relegation zone. Arsenal, however, could not claim their first league title in 12 years, finishing second to Leicester City.

Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea – FA Cup Final, 2017

This was a clash between two clubs familiar with FA Cup glory. Of the 17 previous competitions in the 21st century, each of these London sides had won on five occasions. On paper, however, it seemed a mismatch. The Blues had just regained the league title under Antonio Conte, easing to victory with a record 31 wins in a single campaign. Arsenal, on the other hand, had finished outside of the top four for the first time in 20 years. Injuries and suspensions also meant that Wenger was without his three preferred centre backs, while David Ospina resumed cup duties instead of Cech. Per Mertesacker captained the side in only his second appearance of the season.

It was somewhat unexpected, then, that the Gunners were ahead within five minutes. Sanchez blocked a Chelsea clearance before receiving the ball and converting beyond Courtois. After a lengthy discussion with his assistant regarding a potential offside, Anthony Taylor gave the goal. Arsenal had several attempts to double their lead in the ensuing minutes. Gary Cahill cleared Mesut Özil’s lob off the line before Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey both struck the woodwork.

Chelsea struggled for opportunities, with Eden Hazard and Diego Costa largely thwarted by Mertesacker and protégé Rob Holding. Midway through the second half their task was made even harder as teammate Victor Moses went down in the box. Taylor adjudged that the winger had dived and promptly showed him a second yellow card.

The Blues forwards did find a way through with 15 minutes to play, as Costa controlled the ball and found the corner. The lead lasted all of three minutes, though. The equaliser prompted Wenger to introduce Olivier Giroud from the bench and the centre forward immediately ran to the byline before crossing the ball for Aaron Ramsey to convert. Hector Bellerin went close to adding to Arsenal’s advantage, while it was Özil’s turn to strike the woodwork in injury time. Nonetheless, the Gunners had their sixth FA Cup success of the century, and their third in four years.

Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal – Europa League Final, 2019

With Liverpool and Tottenham contesting the 2018/19 Champions League Final, this clash confirmed a fine campaign for English football. Sadly, UEFA’s decision to hold the final in Baku, which Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan could not visit for political reasons, rightly drew plenty of ire. Neither Conte nor Wenger had been able to build on their success in 2017 and had been replaced by Maurizio Sarri and Unai Emery respectively. Chelsea had finished two points above their neighbours in the league, but this felt like the stage to make a statement regarding a new era.

Cech had announced before the game that he was to join Chelsea’s backroom staff in the summer. Despite the potential conflict of interest, his professionalism was never in doubt and he was selected over Bernd Leno in a decision that reflected his own omission in the 2017 FA Cup Final. While one legend was set to return to Stamford Bridge, another was due to depart. Years of speculation linking Hazard to Real Madrid were coming to a head, and there was a sense that this would be his final outing in a blue shirt.

The first half of the encounter could politely be described as uneventful. Arsenal’s wing backs proved unable to find either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette, while Hazard did not see enough of the ball to exert any influence for his side.

The Blues sprung to life in the second half, though, no small part thanks to their number ten. Four minutes after the restart Giroud, now at Chelsea, beat former teammate Laurent Koscielny to a cross to score the opener. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 as Hazard squared for Pedro to tap in and, before Emery could make any changes, the Belgian converted a penalty to prompt the trophy engraver to start work. Arsenal substitute Iwobi pulled a goal back within seconds of his introduction, but Hazard doubled his own tally minutes later. Cech, meanwhile, was powerless to prevent his former (and future) club. If anything, he did well to limit any further damage.

The image of Sarri inspecting the first winners’ medal of his career was a touching moment, but it was also one of his last at the club. Weeks later he returned to Italy as manager of Juventus, with club legend Frank Lampard his replacement. For Emery, it marked the end of a campaign that had promised so much but delivered little. Six months afterwards he too departed London and Arsenal hired a former midfielder of their own, Mikel Arteta, to take charge.