Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal will bid for a third FA Cup title in four years when they take on Chelsea at Wembley this evening (5.30pm kick-off).
The Gunners edged past Manchester City 2-1 in the last four to reach the final for a record 20th time, with Alexis Sanchez netting an extra-time winner to see off Pep Guardiola’s side last month.
Yet today will be an even greater test against Premier League champions Chelsea, who are targeting the Double for only the second time in seven years, as they attempt to replicate the Premier League/FA Cup double they did under Carlo Ancelotti back in 2010.
Nevertheless, victory today would make Gunners boss Wenger the most successful manager ever in the competition, as he could lift a seventh FA Cup title this afternoon if his side can get past Antonio Conte’s men.
And, based on the announcing of the team news earlier on, several Arsenal fans aren’t overly confident of getting the win this afternoon after two big calls were made by manager Wenger.
David Ospina starts in goal ahead of number one Petr Cech, while club captain Per Mertesacker will make his first start of the season as part of a Gunners back three.
Let’s do this, lads #WeAreTheArsenal pic.twitter.com/li5KNpJLtN
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) May 27, 2017
And it’s the selection of Mertesacker and Ospina, mainly the deselection of Cech, which left many Arsenal fans bemused and asking questions on Twitter…
@Arsenal @mertesacker Are u serious ??
— Valon Demiri (@CheValon1) May 27, 2017
@Arsenal @mertesacker If Cech is injured why is he on the bench
— Igors WOB (@Igor_Stepanovs5) May 27, 2017
@Arsenal @mertesacker So Cech isn’t injured after all#wengerout
— dishon masinde (@dishonmasinde) May 27, 2017
@Arsenal metrsackerrr ahahaha
— BH (@VivaWelbeck) May 27, 2017
@Arsenal @mertesacker Defence isn’t looking good
— Ash Arsenal Waldron (@ashleywaldron24) May 27, 2017
@Arsenal @mertesacker Absolute joke, Per doesn’t even have a whole 90 mins under him for this season and he starts?
— Riyad (@_riyadkabir) May 27, 2017
@Arsenal @mertesacker Why have we dropped Cech?! He’s been incredible past few weeks
— Thomas Allen (@tjallen1994) May 27, 2017