Arsenal are the current FA Cup holders and on May 30th the smart money will be on the Gunners retaining their title. Arsene Wenger has had another good Premier League campaign and the Cup will be the perfect way to finish their season. Arsenal are almost certain to finish in third-place, one better than last season, and their £35million summer signing Alexis Sanchez has elevated the club so much so that supporters are daring to believe that the domestic title could be on its way in the next 12 months.
Aston Villa have had their own successes particularly their run in the FA Cup but also the confirmation that they are staying up in the top-flight, though with only a few points leeway it was a very close call. It has been Tim Sherwood’s first season in charge of the midlands-based club since joining in January and he has shown promise for the future, but he surely won’t be lifting the FA Cup this season.
Villa started their Cup campaign against Blackpool with a 1-0 win in January and victories over Bournemouth, Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion followed. Most expected the club’s good run to come to an end when they were drawn to meet Liverpool in the semi-finals. With club captain Steven Gerrard set to leave Merseyside after 28 years and the final taking place on his 35th birthday it seemed that the Reds were destined to clinch the Cup. But football doesn’t work that way and goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph thrust Villa into the final and shockingly dumped Liverpool out.
Arsenal also had a tricky semi-final against Manchester United to overcome but the Gunners were victorious and now only Villa stand between themselves and lifting the trophy for the second-consecutive year.
Football has the habit of throwing up surprises but if Villa’s form against Arsenal continues then they truly have no hope. The Villans have failed to score against the Gunners who have put an alarming eight goals past them in just two meetings this season and although both have their talismanic strikers you’d say that Sanchez definitely has the edge over Benteke, but on the day either has the chance to become a hero.
Both clubs have just one fixture left before meeting in the final and will want to go into the match full of confidence. Arsenal were unable to beat Sunderland despite their low standing in the table but at least managed to take a point. Villa though were crushed a worrying 6-1 by Europa League hopefuls Southampton and will need to save face against relegated Burnley.
If the result does turn out how everyone outside of Birmingham expects then Aston Villa should still hold their heads high proud of mounting such an impressive campaign. And if they actually win then the club needs to focus on what it is that they did right so that next season they can filter those positives into their Premier League campaign.