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Arsenal v Hull: FA Cup Preview, Team News, Line-Up + Prediction

By on May 17, 2014

The day has finally arrived; it’s FA Cup final time as Arsenal take on Hull City at Wembley this evening, kicking off at 5pm.

The nerves really kicked in yesterday and I’m sure I won’t be the only one who will be absolutely bricking it later on today.

This game is simply HUGE. The trophy drought has lasted long enough and it’s imperative we get some silverware under our belts. To lose tonight would be a hammer blow to the confidence of the squad and the effects could be long lasting.

It took some of the players a long time to get over the Birmingham defeat in 2011 and it would be far worse if we fail this time around. On the flip side, an FA Cup win could be the catalyst to greater things and really get that winning mentality back in the squad.

We’ve had a tough road to get to this stage after being drawn to play Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton before facing last years winners Wigan in the semi finals. That game should be the only warning we need that you can take nothing for granted in football and the players should know it’s not going to be a walk over today.

Hull are a tough side and Steve Bruce will have them well organised, so we may need to be patient and not try and force things. We have the better players and as long as we don’t do anything stupid at the back, then our quality should come through in the end.

Team News

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Thomas Vermaelen are our only injury doubts for the game and the pair will face late fitness tests. The Ox is still struggling with the groin injury that’s hampered him since the semi final while Vermaelen has had five stitches in a cut to his knee.  Both players trained yesterday so I expect them to be passed fit but they’ll most likely be on the bench.

Jack Wilshere is also expected to be among the subs as he’s only played 30 minutes since returning from a foot injury, but Kieran Gibbs is set to start at left-back after coming through his return game last week unscathed.

Arsene Wenger has a big decision to make over who will start in goal. Lukasz Fabianski has played in all the previous rounds and is expected to keep his place this evening, but I’d prefer Szczesny to start. We have to play our best team and Wojciech is our No.1.

There is also a debate over who will start up front as Yaya Sanogo has started in the previous three FA Cup games including the semi final, but I think the boss will start Giroud in a game of this magnitude.

Preferred Line-Up

So my team would be:

Prediction

It’s a cup final and anything can happen, as has been proved several times before. We’re in for a difficult night’s work against Hull, make no mistake. However, we’ve been very good at beating the ‘lesser’ teams this season and have already beaten Hull 2-0 and 3-0 in our league fixtures, so I think we’ll get the job done tonight.

Arsenal 2-1 Hull  COYG!!!!!

What are your thoughts ahead of the game? Nervous? Will we lift the cup?

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