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Following the conclusion of the Premier League season last weekend, the 2019-20 FA Cup final takes place on Saturday evening between Arsenal and Chelsea, in a repeat of the final clash three years ago.
But of course this time, there will be a very different feel to Wembley, with no supporters present due to the coronavirus crisis, in Wembley’s first FA Cup final behind closed doors.
So, what will the usual national spectacle look like this time round? What special plans have been made for the pre-match show, and post-match celebrations? Sportsmail takes you through what to expect this Saturday, in the FA Cup’s weirdest final.
The FA Cup final will take place inside an empty Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening
Due to the coronavirus crisis, the spectacle itself will have a very different feel this year
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE INSIDE THE STADIUM?
The FA are following the same protocols used for the Premier League’s Project Restart post-lockdown, so the stadium will be divided into three zones: red zone, amber zone and green zone.
Red zone is for all players and match-related staff around the pitch while the amber zone is for club executives, official guests and the media. The green zone is the outer perimeter.
It has varied from game-to-game, but the general number of people inside the stadium on matchday has been 300.
However, with Arsenal and Chelsea both allowed to bring 10 extra players in their travelling party – even if they aren’t involved – and 10 extra executives for this showpiece event, the number will be closer to 400 on Saturday.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT PRE-MATCH?
The FA are focusing the final build-up on their Heads Up campaign, which is spearheaded by FA president Prince William and focuses on the conversation around mental health.
In fact, the FA are embracing the silent atmosphere on Saturday with the theme of #SoundOfSupport, with a powerful 60-second moment dedicated to Heads Up to take place before kick-off.
Unique artificial crowd noise will be played inside the 90,000-capacity stadium, created from a soundscape of mental health conversations with both players and supporters.
The crowd noise will be introduced via a spoken word piece from poet, and mental health champion, Hussain Manawer.
Speaking about the nature of Saturday’s unusual FA Cup final, FA chairman Greg Clarke said: ‘There’s no doubt that the stadium will look and feel very different, the noise, colour and camaraderie will be sorely missed but both clubs will no doubt feel the support of the many millions watching with loved ones from the safety of their own home.
Greg Clarke admits the final will be strange but will carry more symbolic importance than ever
‘The Emirates FA Cup embodies football’s ability to unite, empower and uplift and after several difficult months for the country, this season’s final – the 139th in the competition’s history – carries more symbolic importance than ever.
‘Thanks to the support of our title partner Emirates, the Heads Up FA Cup Final will hopefully encourage the millions around the world watching to stimulate a conversation on mental health.’
WILL PRINCE WILLIAM BE PRESENT THEN?
Usually a regular on FA Cup final day, The Duke of Cambridge will not be at Wembley Stadium this Saturday.
However, Prince William will mark the culmination of the Heads Up campaign, with an event in Norfolk instead.
Prince William won’t be at Wembley but will mark the culmination of the Heads Up campaign
WHO WILL SING ‘ABIDE WITH ME’?
Brit-award winning artist Emeli Sande will sing Abide With Me, which is the FA Cup’s historic anthem.
But that too will be different from years gone by.
The performance will be pre-recorded and played inside the stadium and to the global TV audience just before kick-off but sensationally, Sande will sing the anthem from the roof of Wembley Stadium!
Award-winning artist Emeli Sande will sing Abide With Me from the roof of Wembley stadium
It will be the first performance in history from the roof of the iconic national stadium.
Keen to collaborate with the FA and in a nod towards the deconstruction of racism in British communities and in football, Sande said: ‘Only through love, justice and unity will the consequences of hate and separation be healed. Replace racism with justice for everyone.’
WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL ANTHEM?
This will be more familiar.
God Save The Queen will be performed live within the stadium, led by the British Youth Opera.
WILL THERE BE A MATCHDAY PROGRAMME?
The FA Cup final matchday programme will be available to order, either in print or in a digital format
Yes, but not in its usual format.
Obviously, with no fans walking up the famous Wembley Way to attend the game, the usual vendors won’t be open on matchday.
Yet fans can pre-order a limited edition matchday programme either in print, or they can order a digital version which will be available to order from Friday 31 July.
Priced at £10, the 116-page programme has a collectable illustrated and foil-finished cover designed by Marcus Marritt.
The programme consists of a focus on both teams and the Heads Up campaign, featuring interviews with Tony Adams and Emmanuel Petit about their mental health problems.
ANY CHANGES FOR THE GAME ITSELF?
From cup finals of yesteryear, yes. But nothing different from what we’ve seen post-lockdown.
There will be water breaks midway through each half, and in fairness it might be necessary this Saturday, with temperatures in north London set to hit 24C around kick-off.
Arsenal and Chelsea met in the 2017 FA Cup final too, with the Gunners winning 2-1
Both Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard will have nine substitutes to choose from as opposed to the usual seven, and they can make five subs in total, using no more than three stoppages for those changes.
If it’s level after 90 minutes, there will be the usual 30 minutes of extra-time before a penalty shoot-out.
AND WHAT IS AT STAKE BEYOND THE TROPHY?
While Chelsea have guaranteed themselves Champions League football next season with a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League, Arsenal need to win on Saturday to play in Europe next season.
After Mikel Arteta’s side finished ninth in the Premier League, only a win on Saturday will mean they qualify for next season’s Europa League. If Chelsea win, that spot will go to Wolves, who finished seventh in the league
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal need to win on Saturday to qualify for next season’s Europa League
Frank Lampard is looking to win his first piece of silverware as manager of Chelsea
In terms of FA Cup victories, top of the leaderboard Arsenal could win their 14th Cup on Saturday, and fourth in seven years, while Chelsea could win their ninth, and second in three years.
There may also be an added slice of revenge for Chelsea, after they lost the 2017 final between the two sides. Olivier Giroud, who scored the winner for Arsenal that day, is now of course playing in blue.
AND THEN THE WINNERS CLIMB THE FAMOUS WEMBLEY STEPS, YES?
No! In another restriction in order to lessen the risk of spreading coronavirus, the winning team (and the losing team for that matter) will not climb the famous Wembley steps to collect the trophy in the Royal Box.
Arsenal celebrate lifting the 2017 FA Cup in the Royal Box – but that won’t happen this year
Players are banned from walking up to the Royal Box because doing so would see them cross from the red zone to amber zone which breaks safety measures.
Likewise, the trophy and medals must also stay in the red zone to prevent contamination.
Instead, the post-match trophy presentation will take place on the pitch, due to tough Covid restrictions which will prevent the ceremony taking place in its usual format.
Instead, the post-match trophy presentation will take place on the Wembley pitch
Furthermore, there will be no formal presentation to the winners and no presentation party present, with the winning captain instead collecting the trophy from a plinth, in the same way Jordan Henderson picked up the Premier League trophy at Anfield.
WHERE CAN I WATCH ALL THE ACTION?
Both the BBC and BT Sport are broadcasting the match on Saturday, which kicks-off at 5:30pm (BST).
However, coverage on BBC One, with Gary Lineker presenting, begins at 4:30pm while Jake Humphrey will present the action on BT Sport 1 from 4:15pm.
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