Chelsea has made 13 FA Cup final appearances since the inception in 1905. The Blues have won the competition eight times, putting them third in the all-time winners list, behind London rivals Arsenal and Manchester United.
The FA Cup trophy has become a regular feature in the Chelsea trophy cabinet since Russian tycoon and billionaire, Roman Abramovich, bought the club from former owner, Ken Bates, in 2003.
Before focusing on their upcoming final against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners this Saturday, let us take a look back at the Blues last five final appearances in the competition.
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (Attendance: 87,647)
In what was dubbed a win or bust encounter for then Blues boss Antonio Conte, his side prevailed over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, with Chelsea having now beaten the Red Devils twice in FA Cup finals since the turn of the millennium.
The Blues were offered their golden chance for the trophy just 22-minutes into the tie, as Eden Hazard was brought down by United defender Phil Jones in the penalty area.
Referee Michael Oliver deemed the challenge a foul and awarded the spot-kick, which Hazard converted with aplomb, rolling the ball beyond David De Gea into the Red Devils net.
Conte’s side held out for victory against Mourinho’s men. It was, however, not enough for the Italian to be spared of his job having been dismissed of his duties several days later.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (Attendance: 89,472)
Should the Blues fail to beat Arsenal in this weekend’s final, there will be a sense of familiarity in the air, with many of the current squad being involved in their defeat to the Gunners in the 2017 final, including Willian and skipper Cesar Azpilicueta.
On that day, Arsenal were the quickest out of the blocks, with world-class forward Alexis Sanchez providing them with the lead just four minutes in.
It took until the 76th minute for Chelsea to formulate a response and it was only one man on the day who was ever going to provide them with it, with striker Diego Costa keeping to the script to terrorise the Gunners and then manager, Arsene Wenger, once again.
The Blues, having had right wing-back Victor Moses dismissed in the second-half for two bookable offences, weren’t able to hold their own for long following Costa’s equaliser, with Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey providing the finishing touch to a flowing move.
The Arsenal victory sparked a summer of controversy in SW6, with Striker Diego Costa, according to reports, being told he was surplus to requirements by manager Antonio Conte via a text message.
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool (Attendance: 89,102)
In a season that had been full of ups and downs for the Blues, they warmed up for their first ever European Cup win with an FA Cup final win against Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool at the new Wembley.
Well-taken goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba put Roberto Di Matteo’s side in control, only for Liverpool substitute Andy Carroll to do his best to spoil the blue party late-on.
Having scored to reduce the arrears, Carroll would’ve had a second had it not been for a world class save from Chelsea goalkeeper on the day, Petr Cech.
The full-time whistle sparked wild celebrations from the Blue half of Wembley, with them halfway to a historic cup double, going onto beat Bayern Munich in their backyard several days later, to win their first UEFA Champions League title.
Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth (Attendance: 88,335)
On a warm summer’s afternoon at Wembley, what was then Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea, beat Premier League basement boys Portsmouth at a packed out National stadium.
The only goal of the tie came courtesy of the Blues Ivorian talisman, Didier Drogba, with the Premier league golden boot winner of that season placing his free-kick beyond the reach of Pompey goalkeeper, David James.
Avram Grant’s Portsmouth offered little in response to Chelsea taking the lead, with the former Blues boss later dismissed of his duties at Fratton Park as the club went into administration.
For Chelsea however, the victory in the FA Cup in 2010 secured a historic league and cup double, with it being the first and only to date in the clubs 115-year history.
It was also the Blues second FA Cup victory in as many seasons, with them dismantling David Moyes' Everton at Wembley in the year prior.
Chelsea 2-1 Everton (Attendance: 89,391)
In a match that saw the end of Guus Hiddink’s interim spell in charge of the Blues, Chelsea came from behind to beat David Moyes’s, courtesy of goals from Didier Drogba and now Blues manager, Frank Lampard.
Everton had started the better side, with French striker Louis Saha giving them the lead after just 25 seconds, which is still the fastest goal to ever be scored in an FA Cup final.
From then on it only ever looked like one side was going to win the contest, with Hiddink’s Blues pushing for an equaliser almost instantly.
The leveller came just 20-minutes later, with Drogba striking the ball beyond the grasp of Everton goalkeeper and former USA international, Tim Howard.
The winner for Chelsea came in the 72nd minute, with midfielder Lampard scoring a superb effort from outside the box with his weaker left-foot.
The celebration that followed the goal by Lampard was an exact copy of the celebration done by Lampard’s father during an FA Cup final with his boyhood club, West Ham United, a signature tight dancing movement around the corner flag at Wembley.