SACKER PUNCH FOR WENGER
FA CUP FINAL COUNTDOWN Per could be last resort
ARSENE WENGER could be forced to hand Per Mertesacker a shock recall for the FA Cup Final.
With Laurent Koscielny suspended and Shkodran Mustafi yet to train after an illness, Wenger has major problems ahead of Saturday’s clash at Wembley against champions Chelsea.
Gabriel has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with a knee ligament injury, while Kieran Gibbs is not back in training after a thigh problem.
Gunners boss Wenger is toying with a switch to four at the back but if Mustafi is not fit, he is more likely to start with Mertesacker – who had a knee injury in pre-season that ruled him out for five months – in a back three.
That would be a huge gamble as the 32-year-old German defender has not started a game for more than a year.
He last played 90 minutes in April 2016, in a 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
But Wenger may have no choice if Mustafi does not recover in time.
“I have until Saturday to decide,” said the Frenchman. “I have not made up my mind yet. He has the leadership qualities, so it depends a little bit on the system I will go for, the system I will choose.” Mertesacker, who has been out of favour, and without a reserve game under his belt, made his first appearance of the season off the bench in Sunday’s win over Everton.
He insists he is ready to help Arsenal. “I have done this for 15 years, so I expect myself to be absolutely ready no matter what comes,” he said.
“That is my mindset. No matter what happens or what is facing me on Saturday, I am going to go for it. I owe this to this team and to this club.
“I want to make sure I will be ready and my mindset is 120 ® minutes plus penalties.” Even so, Wenger admits losing Gabriel to injury and Koscielny to suspension was a hammer blow.
He said: “It just shows you how unpredictable football can be because we lost two centre-backs. It’s absolutely unbelievable.
“We have been hit hard in a position where we will need to be strong on Saturday. We’ll have to find solutions and hopefully I will find the good solutions.”
Wenger says he has not made up his mind on whether to start with Cech or David Ospina in goal.
Ospina played in the earlier rounds but Cech is expected to get the nod as he started the semi-final win over Manchester City. Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are available after injury scares.