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Tim Sherwood’s boys are ready for Wembley - and now all that’s required is the performance of their lives.

Aston Villa take on Arsenal in the FA Cup Final tomorrow looking to re-write history as they bid to eclipse the triumph of the 1957 side who saw off Manchester United some 58 years ago.

The claret and blues avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth but the Premier League campaign will be quickly forgotten if they end a 19-year wait for a trophy tomorrow.

“We know we are huge underdogs going into the game but every time we’ve been underdogs this year I’ve asked them for a big performance and we’ve produced it,” said Sherwood.

See our 1957 photo special

“Away at Tottenham and Man City, in the FA Cup against Liverpool, even a huge performance in the FA Cup against our local rivals.

“They ticked the boxes in all those games. They can rise to the occasion they just need to do it one more time.

“I believe we’re going to get a performance

“I know what the boys are capable of in one-off games.”

Villa will stop over in Hertfordshire tonight (Friday) before making the short journey into London.

Sherwood knows the capital well. He was born there and has meticulously planned the pre-match schedule to give his team the best fighting chance.

And if the players are as pumped up as the boss, it could be the outsiders celebrating at the national stadium,

“You won’t find anymore more up for it than me,” he said.

“I get more anxious than nervous. The worst time for me is waiting for the game to happen.

“I’m anxious that I can’t do anything more than I can do. I want to be on the pitch rather than in that technical area but my time has gone.

“I just tell the boys that it’s their time now and that their chance is on the pitch and they can really affect it.

“When you’re a player you get excited rather than nervous the more you play. You’re eager to get the game going.

“Once you start you don’t feel the nerves. It’s more about the build up.

“I don’t want the boys to be scared of losing.

“Everyone expects them to lose anyway but we’re not just going there to make up the numbers. We expect, in that dressing room to win.”