Cech set to start in FA Cup final

ARSENE Wenger is set to pick Petr Cech in goal for the FA Cup final against his former club Chelsea tomorrow.

Wenger has picked both Cech and Colombian understudy David Ospina in the cup so far this season. He preferred Ospina against Preston North End, Southampton and Sutton United, in the third, fourth and fifth rounds, before going to Cech for the quarter and semifinals against Lincoln City and Manchester City, when Ospina was injured.

With Ospina fit again, Wenger has a decision to make but he is leaning towards picking Cech for the biggest game in Arsenal’s season. “That is not decided,” he said, when asked about it at his Wednesday morning press conference. “It is possible, we will see.” Wenger pointed out that Ospina was not, in fact, guaranteed of a place just because it was the FA Cup, because of the times he had picked Cech.

In front of Cech Arsenal are facing an injury crisis. Laurent Koscielny is suspended, Gabriel is out with a knee injury, Shkodran Mustafi is a major doubt with concussion while Kieran Gibbs has not yet trained all week so is running out of time to be ready.

“Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in training, but Gibbs is not,” Wenger said.

“Gabriel is out for six to eight weeks,” Wenger confirmed. “We had a scare about his cruciate, but it’s only a medial knee ligament, so the positive is that he avoids surgery. He’s out until the beginning of August now, certainly.”

Mustafi suffered concussion in the 2-0 defeat of Sunderland eight days ago and has still not returned to full training. “Mustafi, we still have some worries about,” Wenger said. — The Independent