CECH AXED AS OSPINA GETS WEMBLEY NOD

ARSENE WENGER has made the shock decision to drop Petr Cech for today’s FA Cup final against the goalkeeper’s former club, Chelsea.

Barring a last-minute change of heart from Wenger or injury, David Ospina is set to start at Wembley, with Cech on the bench.

The decision represents a major gamble by the Arsenal manager, who is without central defenders Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista as he attempts to rescue Arsenal’s season.

Making the move even more bizarre is the fact that the FA Cup final will be Ospina’s last Arsenal appearance before he leaves the club and most likely joins Fenerbahce for £5m.

Cech (35), who will be distraught to miss out against his old club, is yet to win a major trophy with Arsenal since moving from Chelsea in 2015. He collected 13 winners’ medals during 11 years with the Blues, who still regard him as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Ospina played in all eight Champions League matches and up until the quarter-final of the FA Cup before missing the semi-final against Manchester City through injury and being replaced by Cech.

The Columbian has not started a game since the Premier League draw against Manchester City at the start of last month.

Alexis Sanchez is expected to shake off a thigh injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also back in contention.

Late decisions will also be made on Kieran Gibbs, who has a thigh problem, and Shkodran Mustafi, who is struggling with illness.

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte, who has a clean bill of health, must decide whether to start Pedro or Willian behind Diego Costa, while Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic are battling for a place in midfield.

Departing captain John Terry is likely to be on the bench.