The good news is that we have some injury doubts back in the squad. I say doubts but I am sure most if not all these players have been strategically nurtured back to fitness just in time for the final. Jack Wilshere is a case in point, he has been at London Colny for a while now away from the microphones and cameras so to us it looks like Wilshere is making a miraculous recovery just in the nick of time when in fact Arsène has been playing it safe and bringing him back slowly. Arseblog has said that Aaron Ramsey was rested last week against West Brom rather than the reported thigh niggle in the press.

Quite predictably, although you never know I may be bucking popular opinion somehow, I felt like Mesut Özil was one of our best performers today. While you expect someone of his quality and transfer price to affect the outcome of games, the consistency with which he can control the tempo of the game and hit inch perfect passes just shows why the German is valued how he is at more than two Santi Cazorlas. Sometimes you do not appreciate what you have until it is gone, and the German sure is making a positive impact since his return to fitness.

So Aaron Ramsey has been left out of the squad, my guess is that he would have played had Everton beat Manchester City yesterday. I thought Arsene could have given Mertesacker the day off as well but it seems like continuity is the aim.

Finally it is very likely that today could be the last home match for Bacary Sagna. Not entirely sure if he has a knee problem or not but he deserves a great reception and send off from the Arsenal fans. Mr dependable, Mr reliable, Mr warrior. He'll be missed if/when he leaves but at his age with two broken legs behind him it is understandable that the club are not going to pay £150k a week for

Last summer Wenger courted (and bid for) Lars Bender, Luis Gustavo, Gonzalo Higuain, and Luis Suarez. I think it would be insulting to suggest he has suddenly forgotten that our options in central midfield and up front need attention. I don’t expect players of the quality of Özil or Suarez to be targeted again, but I presume we will prioritise signing players in those positions. Let’s not wait for Javi Martinez and Edinson Cavani to be rock up in N5 come August – we can all agree that (surely) isn’t happening. But Lars Bender? Perhaps (Bayer Leverkusen are in their own fight for fourth place at he minute.)

Scoring from set pieces allows you to not be at your best and still turn the game on it's head in your favour. Santi Cazorla's curled ball into the box found Koscielny who got on the wrong side of Moussa Sissoko and our tigerish, speedy centre back poked in from close range for yet another goal against Newcastle. Maybe he should be our Paul Warhurst (youngsters look him up) against the Geordies.

On the 28th April 2014 Arsenal beat Alan Pardew's (Haha) Newcastle United 3-0 meaning that once again Tottenham finish below us for the 19th season in a row. Great consistency from both sides of North London. I want to thank Tottenham for having such a wonderful sense of humour. Football doesn't always go our way and on those days when it hasn't more often than not they found a way to cheer us up and make us smile. Long may this continue.

Man of the match was between Santi and Ozil for me. I'll have to go with Santi, he buzzed around the final third speeding up and switching the play stretching Newcastle. His delivery for the first was impeccable, something we don't see enough of. Pleased for Ozil after taking some stick recently, to come back with a goal and an assist, top quality. The aforementioned Mesut Özil. He dazzled whenever he got the ball in the final third. There's a lovely vine going around of him selling Gouffran a dummy in the first half before going in the other direction. He made a few runs beyond the back four, which was nice to see - he'd busted a gut to get alongside Giroud and wanted the ball earlier for the goal itself.

No changes from the Hull City line up then, no surprises there then. It is great to see both Ramsey and Mesut on the same pitch at home for the first time in well, ages! We've got decent strength on the bench also which is great news. What is the betting that Arteta has a good end of season now he has his side kick (and legs) alongside him in Rambo. We should be beating this Newcastle team and I am confident the players will be up for it on this lovely sunny evening.