Most bookies will have Arsenal down as the favourites, however Villa will be confident of an upset, reaching the cup final themselves a reputable 10 times, with a 70% winning ratio. Online estate agent Emoov have looked at the figures and discovered that it's not just football that separates the two teams, however - house prices in their respective areas show a marked difference too.
It will be the ninth time the final has been played at the new Wembley Stadium, having been done so since the 2006/07 season, after the demolition and regeneration of the old site. Since then property prices in the London Borough of Brent have increased by 53%, with the average house price in Wembley at £368,944 – substantially higher than the national average (£208,697). This is in part due to the rejuvenation of the Wembley area, paired with escalating property prices across the UK over the last 20 years.
The last time Villa made it to an FA Cup Final, it was at the old Wembley Stadium back in 2000, when the average UK house cost just £85,000. Although they lost to Chelsea 1-0, property prices in Birmingham have enjoyed an increase of 94% in the last 15 years, with the average price now £157,942.
Wenger began his tenure as the Arsenal gaffer in 1996 when the average UK house price was a mere £60,000. During that time he has reached the FA Cup Final six times, winning five of them whilst property prices in Islington have risen by a crazy 547%.
Hardly surprising given the London property market is a law unto itself, however considering Birmingham’s accolade as the second city, the property gulf between the two is vast.
According to Emoov data, at £95,942 the average house price in the B6 postcode, home address of Villa Park, is £456,210 less than the N7 post code and way below the national average. A flat in the Islington area is more than double the national average for a house, costing £459,391. With an average price of £63,585, you could afford seven flats around Villa Park for the price of one in Islington.
The extreme rate of growth in London is evident, with property near the Emirates having increased in value by £27,366 over the last year. Villa Park can only boast an increase of £1,844 during 2014, making the Emirates a far sounder investment if you’re looking to add to your property portfolio.
