It's either going to be an absolutely special day or a very sad day for Aston Villa

Not that you'd want to, but there's no going back now. It's like you climbed to the top diving board and people are watching; you just have to jump. The thing is it's how you jump that will be remembered. You've got to make it look good and you can't go out on a whimper.

It's when you don't really jump and just fall off that it all goes wrong. It's now all about focus and ninety minutes. It's now about leaving it on the pitch.

So whatever I write doesn't matter, it's about what happens on the pitch from 5.30pm. It's about how we will feel at 7.45pm and more importantly how the players are going to feel. And yes, it's also a little about the football and getting to the ball first and not wasting it. It might also be about getting the ball wide. Turns out this match is going to be about quite a few things.

So for now, let's just concentrate on the day. We'll have team news later and I'll be surfing Twitter and Instagram for drunk photos and predictions. Add links to them below, it might make it fun. Otherwise; predictions?

Some match facts from the BBC

  • Arsenal and Aston Villa have been drawn together in the FA Cup 10 times. Arsenal have one seven, Aston Villa three.
  • This is the first time these sides have met in an FA Cup final.
  • The last FA Cup meeting between these sides was in the fourth round in 2012, when Arsenal came back from two goals down to win 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium.
  • Aston Villa's last FA Cup win against Arsenal was in the fourth round in 1974, when they drew 1-1 at Highbury before winning the replay 2-0 at Villa Park.
  • Aston Villa have won only one of the last nine meetings in all competitions. Their only win since May 2011 was 3-1, in the Premier League, at the Emirates Stadium in August 2013.
  • Arsenal are the holders of the FA Cup, after beating Hull 3-2 at Wembley last May. They are the joint-most successful side in FA Cup history, having lifted the trophy 11 times - the same as Manchester United.
  • Arsenal have reached the FA Cup final for the second successive year, after failing to reach this stage in the previous eight seasons. It is their 19th FA Cup final - a record for any side.
  • Only three clubs have lifted the FA Cup on more occasions than Aston Villa, who have won the trophy seven times. Their seven FA Cup wins came between 1887 and 1957.
  • This is Aston Villa's first FA Cup final since 2000, when they lost 1-0 to Chelsea at Wembley.