7 things Aston Villa need to do to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final

30 May 2015 07:01

Taking on Arsenal is a daunting task at the best of times – doing it as the team who finished 17th in the Premier League in an FA Cup final could be seriously scary.

That’s the task Aston Villa and their manager Tim Sherwood face at Wembley – but they have all the tools to hurt the Gunners.

Here’s what they need to do…

1. Move up a gear

Aston Villa players look dejected against Southampton
(Chris Ison/PA)

Or even better, move up several. It’s not traditionally seen as a recipe for success to take your foot off the gas for the end of the season as the final approaches – and Villa’s last two matches were a 6-1 hammering by Southampton and a 1-0 loss to relegated Burnley. The can take some inspiration from Hull though – the Tigers took one point from five games in the run-up to last year’s final and still nearly beat the Gunners.

2. Get the ball to Benteke

Christian Benteke celebrates scoring for Aston Villa
(Owen Humphreys/PA)

What had been shaping up to be a disappointing season for Christian Benteke completely transformed once Tim Sherwood arrived. The Belgium striker has scored 12 goals in his last 12 games for Villa and is now being linked with anyone and everyone with a bit of cash to throw around. If anyone can hurt Arsenal, he can.

3. Ignore the distractions

Aston Villa's Christian Benteke and Jack Grealish celebrate
(Nick Potts/PA)

Benteke is not the only Villa player being linked with a move away from the club – Jack Grealish has apparently been attracting the attention of Manchester City. Now is not the time to have your head turned though – Villa’s players must be completely committed to the cause on Saturday. On Sunday, they can think about their future.

4. Sieze the day

Aston Villa fans at Wembley
(Andrew Matthews/PA)

Arsenal have a team full of big names used to performing on the big stage – not least in last year’s cup final. For many of Villa’s players, this will be a first. One of Sherwood’s biggest tasks will be making sure his charges don’t freeze – surely he’s just the man to perform that task.

5. Trust in Tim

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood on the sidelines
(Nigel French/PA)

It’s hard to overstate what a positive effect Sherwood had on Villa’s season. They were in the deepest of ruts under Paul Lambert, unable to play with any freedom, to score or to win. Some doubt Sherwood’s tactical abilities but he has been exactly what Villa’s petrified players needed to help them remember they are actually good footballers. Sherwood will be telling his side they deserve to be at Wembley every bit as much as Arsenal do. They need to believe him.

6. Stifle Sanchez

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez lies on the ground watching the ball
(Adam Davy/EMPICS)

Alexis Sanchez has been central to much of Arsenal’s success this season. Villa need to hope he has an off day – or make sure he has an off day by taking him out of the game. That job is likely to fall to Leandro Bacuna, another player who has really stepped up since Sherwood’s arrival. If he can nullify the threat of Sanchez, he could really make a name for himself.

7. Call in a favour

Prince William watches Aston Villa
(Mike Egerton/PA)

Two of the most powerful men in the country – Prince William and David Cameron – are, in theory at least, Villa fans. The PM won’t be at Wembley – he has a long-standing engagement, apparently – but the Duke of Cambridge will be there. If things are going badly, they could always get their celebrity fan to pull a few strings…

Source: SNAPPA