Chelsea ended their Premier League campaign in style by battering Sunderland 5-1 on the last day of the season, and their chances of winning the double received a boost thanks to Arsenal’s defensive woes. The Gunners, Chelsea’s cup final opponents, beat Everton 3-1 but it was not enough to qualify for the Champions League as Liverpool won to secure fourth place. To rub salt into Arsenal’s wounds, Laurent Koscielny was sent off and Gabriel limped off injured, leaving them with a defensive crisis ahead of the final.
Koscielny has looked like Arsenal’s only competent defender this season, and it is notable that they were in the game in both legs against Bayern Munich until he left the field. Without him they shipped goals left, right and centre, and lost 10-2 on aggregate. Gabriel is a suspect centre back, but seems to have improved of late. Without the pair of them, it will be extremely difficult for Arsenal to play three at the back.
Switching to this formation – which proved so successful for Chelsea this season – has inspired a superb turnaround in Arsenal’s form towards the end of the campaign. Arsene Wenger switched to three at the back in the wake of his team’s 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. Since the change, they have won eight of nine games, getting to within a whisker of Liverpool and reaching the cup final.
But they are seriously lacking in personnel now. Koscielny will miss the final and Gabriel’s injury looks serious. Shkodran Mustafi missed the game against Everton with an illness but could return. He would line up alongside Rob Holding, a talented but inexperienced rookie. The third spot could be filled by Per Mertesacker, but he has barely kicked a ball all season. In all likelihood, it would go to Nacho Monreal, and Arsenal would be forced to deploy Kieran Gibbs as a left wing-back. But there is no guarantee Mustafi and Gibbs, who also missed the Everton game, will be fit enough to play.
It is dreadful preparation for the final for Arsenal and the odds have since shortened on Chelsea winning it and drifted out on Arsenal. Before you bet review sportbooks lines like Bovada and you will see that Chelsea have gone in to 4/5 to win it in 90 minutes, while Arsenal have drifted out to 7/2. The bookmakers expect Chelsea will be comfortable, as the Blues are just 2/5 to lift the trophy – a bet that takes into account extra-time and penalties if necessary.
The 3-0 defeat at The Emirates in September is now a distant memory. Chelsea turned things around immediately by switching to three at the back and the Blues are far more comfortable with the system than Arsenal. Chelsea gained sweet revenge for that defeat by beating Arsenal 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, and will go into the game full of confidence. Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas will relish the chance to take on this beleaguered and battered Arsenal backline, and Antonio Conte’s men have a great chance of claiming a famous double.
