Arsenal V Chelsea: FA Cup Preview

Arsenal v Chelsea

Saturday April 18 2009,

Wembley Stadium

Kickoff: 17:15

Arsenal

Arsenal defeated Hull City 2-1 to progress to the semifinals of this season's FA Cup.

In their FA Cup campaign so far, Arsenal have scored 12 and conceded two goals.

Arsenal's defensive crisis appears to be getting worse with replacement Kieran Gibbs picking up a groin injury in Arsenal's win over Villarreal on Wednesday. He will join Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Johan Djourou, Tomas Rosicky, and Abou Diaby on the sidelines.

Chelsea

Chelsea beat Coventry 2-0 to progress to this semifinal.

In their FA Cup campaign this season, Chelsea have scored 13 goals and conceded four altogether.

Chelsea currently have no new injury concerns for this match.

Prediction

The only meeting between the two sides so far this season was at Stamford Bridge on November 30, where Arsenal were victorious 2-1.

With both teams through to the semifinals of the Champions League and their place in next season's Champions League also practically guaranteed, Chelsea and Arsenal will battle it out to edge one step closer to getting their hands on some valuable silverware in a season dominated by Manchester United.

Arsenal hold the better history of the two, having beaten Chelsea in all six of their previous FA Cup ties. However, with their injury concerns mounting, this match may very well prove a different story for the battling Gunners.

Form-wise there is little to separate the teams, with Arsenal perhaps even putting in the better performance of the two sides in recent times. But with a growing crisis in the Gunners' backline, Chelsea's attacking power may prove too much for the under-strength Arsenal defence.

It is for this reason that Chelsea will go into the match as slight favourites. But with Arsenal scoring seven in their last two matches, and Chelsea conceding as many in theirs, this encounter between two of football's biggest superpowers promises to be one of the most exciting and highly anticipated matches in what is set to be an action-packed end of season run-in.

Read the full preview with the best bookmakers odds at the Arsenal vs Chelsea page now!

Then read our other FA Cup betting preview at the Manchester United vs Everton preview page!