Arsenal will look to win their third FA Cup title in four seasons when they take on Chelsea at Wembley later this afternoon. The Gunners are currently in a defensive crisis following the absence of Laurent Koscielny(suspension) and Gabriel(knee injury) and this could potentially earn Per Mertesacker his first start in the Gunners’ final game of the campaign.
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Arsene Wenger is likely to stick with the 3-4-2-1 formation which has provided much success in the final stages of the campaign. Rob Holding, in particular, has shone at the heart of the back three, and his showing could be key to the Gunners’ bid to lift their 13th FA Cup – a record in English football.
Lineup:
David Ospina is likely to be handed over the number one role in the final ahead of regular shot-stopper Petr Cech, as per The Mail. The backline is likely to see a couple of changes with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a probable candidate to fill in at left wing-back instead of Kieran Gibbs.
Hector Bellerin has been in good touch for the Gunners of late, and he is set to feature in the right wing-back with trio Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal and club-captain Per Mertesacker likely to start in the back three.
Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey looked to have formed a decent bond in central midfield, and they could be backed to start alongside each other with Francis Coquelin likely to contend with a bench role.
Likewise Bellerin, Mesut Ozil has evolved into a key figure in the new setup, and he will have to put a key performance alongside top-scorer Alexis Sanchez, if the Gunners are to end victorious on the night.
Up front, it is literally a fight between Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud with the former likely to get the nod in order to provide more pace in the forward line.
