2020 FA Cup Final


The 2020 FA Cup Final, known officially as the Heads Up FA Cup Final, was the final match of the 2019–20 FA Cup and the 139th final of the FA Cup. It was played at Wembley Stadium, London, England on 1 August 2020 due to being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The match was contested between Arsenal and Chelsea. As winners, Arsenal will enter the group stage of the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League. The match was officially named the Heads Up FA Cup Final by The Football Association as part of a campaign around mental health awareness promoted by The FA president, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The match was held behind closed doors. The winners received the trophy on the pitch and not, as in previous seasons, by climbing steps to the Royal Box for the presentation.

Route to the final

Arsenal



Arsenal, as a Premier League club, started in the third round at home against EFL Championship side Leeds United. At their Emirates Stadium, Arsenal won 1–0 due with a goal from Reiss Nelson. In the fourth round, they drew fellow Premier League Bournemouth away at Dean Court. Arsenal won 2–1 with goals from Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah. In the next round Arsenal were drawn away to League One side Portsmouth. At Fratton Park, Arsenal won 2–0 with goals from Sokratis and Nketiah. In the quarter-finals, they drew fellow Premier League side Sheffield United. At Bramall Lane, Arsenal won 2–1 with a penalty from Nicolas Pépé and a stoppage time winner from Dani Ceballos. In the semi-final at neutral Wembley Stadium, Arsenal played Premier League side and current FA Cup holders Manchester City. Arsenal reached the final after a 2–0 win with two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Chelsea



Chelsea, as a Premier League club, started in the third round at home against Championship side Nottingham Forest and won 2–0 with goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ross Barkley at their Stamford Bridge. In the fourth round, they drew another Championship side, Hull City. At the KCOM Stadium, Chelsea won 2–1 with goals from Michy Batshuayi and Fikayo Tomori. In the next round they were drawn with fellow Premier League club Liverpool at home and won 2–0 with goals from Willian and Barkley. In the quarter-finals, they drew Premier League side Leicester City. At the King Power Stadium, Chelsea won 1–0 with the sole goal coming from Barkley. In the semi-final at Wembley, Chelsea played Premier League side Manchester United in the cup for the fourth consecutive season. Chelsea reached the final after a 3–1 win with goals from Olivier Giroud, Mason Mount and an own goal from Harry Maguire.

Pre-match

The two finalists shared a London derby rivalry. The final was a repeat of the 2002 and 2017 FA Cup finals, both of which Arsenal won. It was also a repeat of the previous year's UEFA Europa League final which Chelsea won. Arsenal, having won a record 13 FA Cups, entered into the final looking to extend their winners record. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the match was held behind closed doors with no spectators despite initial plans for a limited reopening. Anthony Taylor was appointed to referee his second FA Cup final. Having refereed the 2017 final, he became the first man to referee a second FA Cup final since Arthur Kingscott in 1901; the FA did not want a referee's family to miss attending the match.

Match

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