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FA Cup Final: Who will have the last smile?
- Arsenal set to take on Chelsea in a crunch final showdown at Wembley
- Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard are eager to land silverware in their debut seasons
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Arsenal take on Chelsea in a crunch showdown final on Saturday.
The two managers have been in their debut managerial seasons in England, with each having a different kind of experience.
The two former midfielders clashed and battled over and over during their playing careers – Mikel at Everton and then at Arsenal against Lampard at Chelsea.
Now, as young and ambitious managers, they come up against one another in the pursuit of that precious first piece of silverware.
Lampard, 42, has enjoyed a very good first season as Chelsea manager, steering them to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and another season in the Champions League.
Arteta, 38, only came in at Arsenal midway through the campaign and so hasn’t had a full opportunity to make his mark, but some progress has been made in performances if not in their eventual eighth-place finish.
Frank Lampard
The Englishman has had a stellar debut season at Stamford Bridge.
He joined the Blues in managerial capacity after leading Derby County to the Championship play-off final.
The former England international took charge of the Blues in what was a hugely popular appointment among most fans. With the noose of the transfer ban on the Blues’ neck, he had to seek to the services of the young talent from the club’s academy – and they did not fail him.
The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Reece James have been an integral part in his debut season despite suffering a humbling experience on the first visit to Old Trafford.
While the ship has not been steady, registering shocking defeats both home and away, the 2012 Champions league winner was able to lead the team to book a Champions League spot next season.
Mikel Arteta
Having been under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the Spaniard took over the reins at Arsenal with the team struggling to find their feet following the sacking of Unai Emery.
Work had been cut out for the former Arsenal midfielder who had to reignite the team, give them confidence and lead the way.
A leaky defence, an unstable midfield and a sporadic threatening forward that boasted of good strikers.
Huge calls for a rookie.
While neutrals and several fans will see hope in Mikel’s rebuilding, old frailties such as defenders’ brain-freeze, howlers, difficulty in handling pressure and physicality as well as the zeal and courage of pushing to the last minute remain at the Emirates.
Impressive wins over Liverpool and Manchester City in the competition’s semi-final will give the team and the fans something to look forward to in the final.
Wembley awaits.
