Arsenal make the trip to Wembley for the third time this season as they look to beat Manchester City to win their second piece of silverware of the campaign.
The Gunners beat Premier League champions Chelsea in the Community Shield here at the start of the season on penalties, but has a much bigger task in hand for today’s final match-up.
Man City have been in amazing form since the summer after a hefty investment in personnel, and some have even moved to compare their on-fire side to the Invincibles of 2004, and are actually on course to break the Premier League points and goals records currently held by Chelsea.
Our boys have our own their own reasons to be quietly confident coming into today’s match-up however, having won our last nine competitive outings at Wembley in cup competitions, with Tottenham’s league win over us overlooked due to their home advantage.
Our away form this season has been our biggest downfall, and today’s crowd should be just as fired up as when they have been at home, and we will hopefully see the best of January signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang today.
Santi Cazorla and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are the only confirmed absentees through injury and being cup-tied, while Aaron Ramsey remains a doubt having picked up a groin strain in recent weeks.
Predicted XI:
Ospina
Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal
Xhaka Elneny Wilshere
Iwobi Ozil
Aubameyang
This team certainly has enough creativity to cause trouble to even the best defences in the world, and that is not a tag I would use for Man City. Their defensive record this term stems from having large amounts of possession in my opinion, and their defence is definitely one that can be got at.
I have a feeling this game will go to extra time, and I’m hoping that a fired up Gunners crowd will push our side to steal the game at the death, but I’m under no illusions that this will come easily.
Can we take note from Liverpool and Wigan and put City to the sword today? Does our Wembley record give us the edge today?
Pat J