Arsenal legend and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has predicted the Gunners will be comfortably beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday evening.
The north London outfit come into the clash knowing that they need to win a trophy after a disappointing season that saw them finish fifth in the Premier League, ending a run of 20 successive campaigns in the Champions League.
The refusal of manager Arsene Wenger to announce his future plans certainly hasn’t helped, with the players and supporters in jeopardy in recent months.
They do have a good relationship with the FA Cup though having won on it on 12 occasions – with the last time being in 2015 – and they would hold the record for lifting the famous trophy the most if they are victorious on Saturday.
However, they come into the clash with something of a defensive crisis with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista definitely out because of suspension and a knee injury respectively, while Shkodran Mustafi is a doubt with concussion.
It will certainly be no easy task against the rampant Blues either, who soared to the Premier League title under Antonio Conte following a sensational run of results following a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates in October.
With the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and a strong three-man defence, Merson fancies Chelsea to record a comfortable win that would give captain John Terry the opportunity to lift one last trophy in his final ever game for the club.
The 49-year-old told Sky Sports: “Arsenal are struggling in defence.
“If both teams had brought their A game then Chelsea would still have won, but with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel out, Shkodran Mustafi potentially out and Per Mertesacker playing at the back I would be shocked if Arsenal got a result.”
Whatever the result, according to The Mirror, Wenger will sign a new two-year deal with Arsenal and the Frenchman will know that his team has to make a significant improvement next season.
