Arsenal vs Chelsea: 5 key players in crucial FA Cup Final
by Josh Sippie
Arsenal, Dani Ceballos (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Pool via Getty Images)
4. Dani Ceballos
I switched Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka at the last second because I know what Granit Xhaka is going to do. He’s going to do his job, he’s going to introduce some kind of solidity to the equation. Which we desperately need.
Dani Ceballos has been great lately, but much like with Emi Martinez, I know what it looks like when Ceballos isn’t great, or when he’s ordinary, and I also know what it’s like when he’s extraordinary.
It’s game-changing. And against Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, anything “game-changing” is pretty important.
If Ceballos is at his best, if he’s secure with possession and pushing play forward in Arsenal’s favor, we are in good shape to capitalize on those attacking moves and create some goal-scoring chances. We need that from him.
Speaking of needs, on to No. 3.
Arsenal‘s season is not nearly as disappointing as what some fans are cracking it up to be. 8th place and a spot in the FA Cup Final despite fighting through three managers and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d934d1e6/Mikel-Arteta?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mikel Arteta</a> using the scraps left behind is no small feat.</p>
<p>And this season can obviously take one hell of a bump up if we can secure the FA Cup with Arteta only having half a season to put all the pieces together.</p>
<p>This all starts with sending the right guys out there, and those right guys doing their part. Arteta can only do so much. As long as he sends his best guys out there with tactics that can be achieved, he’s done his part.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="Predicted XI vs Chelsea" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-predicted-xi-2/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-predicted-xi-2/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Predicted XI vs Chelsea </a> </div>
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<p>So let’s talk about the key guys in this one, because there are a lot of different players who could step up to make this match so much easier.</p>
<p>Let’s start the talk with key player No. 5.</p>
<h4>5. Emiliano Martinez</h4>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=7956236f,52061089&search=Emiliano+Mart%C3%ADnez&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Emiliano Martinez</a> saw himself off most previous five key players lists simply because we knew he was going to do his job every single time. He’s become such a positive presence in goal in the wake of us losing <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/2628fd2b/Bernd-Leno?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Bernd Leno</a>, who was our shoo-in for player of the season.</p>
<p>We really haven’t even felt Leno’s absences, which speaks volumes to the quality of Martinez.</p>
<p>That said, stepping up in a key match like this when we know he is going to be tested, is another matter entirely. Although, in an ideal world, there would be no difference between a traditional Premier League match and the FA Cup Final, but this might be a situation where I need to see it to believe it.</p>
<p>Thankfully, I have every bit of faith in the world that Martinez can do the job, I’ll just feel a heck of a lot better when I actually see it happen. He is going to be tested in this one, so we just need him to be his usual dominant self.</p>
<p>On to No. 4.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. All of it </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102719" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1253067368.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Dani Ceballos" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1253067368.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1253067368-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Dani Ceballos (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Pool via Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>4. Dani Ceballos</h4>
<p>I switched <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c0617e2b/Dani-Ceballos?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Dani Ceballos</a> and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/Granit-Xhaka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Granit Xhaka</a> at the last second because I know what Granit Xhaka is going to do. He’s going to do his job, he’s going to introduce some kind of solidity to the equation. Which we desperately need.</p>
<p>Dani Ceballos has been great lately, but much like with Emi Martinez, I know what it looks like when Ceballos isn’t great, or when he’s ordinary, and I also know what it’s like when he’s extraordinary.</p>
<p>It’s game-changing. And against Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, anything “game-changing” is pretty important.</p>
<p>If Ceballos is at his best, if he’s secure with possession and pushing play forward in Arsenal’s favor, we are in good shape to capitalize on those attacking moves and create some goal-scoring chances. We need that from him.</p>
<p>Speaking of needs, on to No. 3.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Do your thing </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103547" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1070,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1256371069.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Rob Holding" width="1600" height="1070" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1256371069.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1256371069-768x514.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Rob Holding (Photo by Paul Childs/Pool via Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>3. Rob Holding</h4>
<p>The No. 1 thing making me nervous about this match is the defense. Honestly, not having <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3f2d59fe/Shkodran-Mustafi?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Shkodran Mustafi</a> hurts way more than I could have ever imagined. I like <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d79a8c87/Rob-Holding?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rob Holding</a>, I really appreciate who he is as a player. Especially with his adopted brutishness that I’ve been enjoying far too much lately.</p>
<p>But he’s still struggled a bit in that back three. He’s not as mobile as Mustafi. He’s not as good with the ball. So when he tries to be, it leads to problems.</p>
<p>Holding is a defensive defender. He’s best suited in a simple role like in a back four centerback pairing. I highly doubt Arteta will give him that luxury. He is going to be asked to play as the right-sided centerback in a back three, where he’s got about a 50% success rate.</p>
<p>That’s still a high enough success rate that I feel decently confident, but again—I need to see it happen.</p>
<p>Not to mention he is crucial for the aerial war.</p>
<p>Let’s stay on topic with No. 2.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Again, but better </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-102987" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1224655674.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, David Luiz" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1224655674.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1224655674-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, David Luiz (Photo by Sam Bagnall – AMA/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>2. David Luiz</h4>
<p>So much of putting him this high on the list has to do with his complete collapse the first time he was asked to face Chelsea, when he slipped up, surrendered a red card and a penalty, set the Gunners behind and left it up to a miracle run from Gabriel Martinelli and a bewildering late goal from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/f874dd44/Hector-Bellerin?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Hector Bellerin</a> to see the match to a draw.</p>
<p>The good news is that I believe Luiz to be as professional as they come, so I would never anticipate a second such collapse. It’s just not going to happen. He’s going to be at his best in this one, which is why he ranks so high on the key players list.</p>
<p>If he can keep this defense organized—a defense that may include Rob Holding and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/3935e52e/Sead-Kolasinac?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sead Kolasinac</a>, so good luck—then we can shut this Chelsea attack out as we’ve done with plenty of teams before.</p>
<p>But it all starts with <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/c0e27d1a/David-Luiz?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">David Luiz</a>.</p>
<p>Finally, No. 1.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. Anything goes </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-103709" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1227685473.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1227685473.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1227685473-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h4>1. Nicolas Pepe</h4>
<p>As is always the case, the man with the highest propensity to change the match is the man ranking in at No. 1.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>The simple truth is that we don’t know which <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/57e3f0c7/Nicolas-Pepe?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nicolas Pepe</a> will show up. We have seen him completely change the face of a match and we have seen him struggle to complete a single positive move. It’s often a crapshoot, though he’s been finding himself a bit more lately and laying a foundation for a good baseline performance.</p>
<p>But that good baseline performance is nowhere near the game-changer that he can be.</p>
<p>If Pepe is at his best, Chelsea has no chance. He will own that defense, he will put them under so much stress that they will have no choice but to break.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 Controversial Truths Fans Must Accept" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/28/arsenal-3-controversial-truths/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/29/arsenal-chelsea-5-key-players-final/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2020/07/28/arsenal-3-controversial-truths/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 Controversial Truths Fans Must Accept </a> </div>
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<p>And then there’s that chance that he struggles to get involved and our creative endeavors are left up to our striking partnership. Which isn’t the worst scenario, but it could be a lot better.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
