Arsenal seeks 12th FA Cup title

Two of England’s most historic clubs will go head to head in the final of the oldest cup competition in world football today as Arsenal and Aston Villa compete for FA Cup glory at Wembley.

The competition has seen a number of notable shocks already this season, and Villa will be looking to provide one more to prevent holders Arsenal from retaining the trophy.

History could be made by the Gunners today as they look to become the most successful team in the long and illustrious story of the FA Cup.

Last year’s success not only ended a nine-year trophy drought for the club as Aaron Ramsey’s extra-time strike secured a comeback victory over Hull City, it also took them level with Manchester United as 11-time winners of the competition.

One more victory would see them become the first team to lift the famous cup 12 times, in addition to becoming the first side to retain it since Chelsea five years ago.

There is a personal goal on the line for manager Arsene Wenger too. He would overtake Sir Alex Ferguson as the competition’s most successful manager of the modern era with what would be a sixth FA Cup winners’ medal.

The success of his managerial reign will not rest on this Saturday, but the success of Arsenal’s season may do. The Gunners improved on last term’s fourth-place finish in the Premier League, but they ended the campaign four points worse off and once again failed to launch a serious title bid.

For Aston Villa, It will be their first appearance in an FA Cup final for 15 years, and their trophy drought stretches back even further to 19.

You have to go back to 1957, 58 years ago, for the last time they lifted this particular piece of silverware, although in the entire history of the cup only three teams have won it more often.

Villa’s heyday came a long time ago, however, and the current crop of players will be desperate to write their own names into the history books today.

Tim Sherwood achieved his primary goal of keeping the club in the division, injecting plenty of passion and heart along the way, but FA Cup glory would likely top even Premier League survival.

Much like Hull last term, Villa now find themselves just one match away from European football next season having only narrowly survived in the Premier League less than a week ago. Victory over Arsenal would see Sherwood’s side qualify for the 2015-16 Europa League at the expense of Southampton.