Fourth minute, 0-0: Arsenal appears to have scored, but the referee’s assistant has ruled Alexis Sanchez offside.
Third minute, 0-0: Arsenal has sustained possession early on, but much of it has come near the halfway line. Chelsea merely is sitting deep and waiting for a chance to counter-attack.
Kickoff: The 136th FA Cup final is under way.
Both teams are enjoying an FA Cup final winning streak, but something has to give in 2017.
Pregame: The teams are out on the field, and the FA Cup and national anthems are complete.
The teams will observe a minute’s silence for the victims of Monday’s bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is trying to mitigate his team’s injury crisis with veteran center back Per Mertesacker, who’ll partner Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal on a three-man back line.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returns from injury to man the left flank in Kieran Gibbs’ absence.
Chelsea counters with a familiar-looking lineup. The only notable choice manager Antonio Conte makes is opting for Pedro over Willian among the front three attackers.
11:45 a.m.: Here are the starting lineups:
Arsenal
Chelsea
11:30 a.m. ET: Perhaps it’s fitting top-flight action in the English soccer season will culminate in London.
Arsenal and Chelsea will face off Saturday at Wembley Stadium, English soccer’s spiritual home, in the FA Cup final.
The fortunes of the London-based teams contrasted this season, with Chelsea winning the Premier League and Arsenal finishing in fifth place, it’s worst final position in the last 20 years. Their respective seasons and Chelsea’s recent success against the Gunners make the Blues the favorite to lift the oldest trophy in the soccer world this season.
But Arsenal and Chelsea can end their season on a higher peak or lower depth, depending on how they perform for 90-plus minutes on the final day of the domestic season.
Join us right here for all the action from Wembley Stadium.
Thumbnail photo via YouTube/NBC Sports
