Confirmed Line Ups

In my match preview I put up two line ups, one was the team I hoped Arsene would choose and the other the one I expected Arsene to choose. Needless to say he didn't go with my team but all the same his selection is still very strong. Yaya Sanogo leads the line for Arsenal this afternoon while Alexis Sanchez starts from the right.

It is Alexis time as the teamsheets have been plastered on the dressing room walls at the Emirates. The new exciting forward Alexis Sanchez starts as expected. Arsene said he should be getting 45 minutes today. Alongside him is Frenchman Oliver Giroud so we can assume that the new boy will be starting from a wide position.

Yup as I thought, I had no clue as to what team would start today. Very interesting calls in goal and at centre back. What does Fabianksi starting in goal mean? Is it preparation for the final? Or is it a case of you have this one because Szczesny is having the final. I am sure we will hear more post match.

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.

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.

Ok, posting a preview minutes before the line up was to be announced was a schoolboy error, I blame sleeping in for my mistake. I got the team all wrong, quite surprised about a few of the selections but hey. Mesut Özil and his silky through the lines passing goes straight back into the team along with superman Aaron Ramsey. I bet those two have a very high win percentage when playing together.

So Oxlade-Chamberlain is the one who steps down and Mikel Arteta keeps his place in the side. I like many assumed that Kim Kallstrom may have started this one after his positive impact from the bench in midweek and also his freshness but Arsene is sticking by his vice captain. Lukas Podolski who made and scored a goal in a matter of seconds keeps his place in the team on the left.

So there rumours of mass changes were rubbish as Arsene pretty much sticks with the team that lost at Stamford Bridge. Laurent Koscielny is ruled out with injury so Thomas Vermaelen replaces him at centre back while Lukas Podolski is replaced by Mathieu Flamini in the centre of midfield to no doubt give the team some more steel. Kieran Gibbs takes his place on the right of the attack while Oxlade-Chamberlain plays at left back.

I cannot tell you how much I want us to beat Chelsea. While we are depleted somewhat with key players missing, we still have a lot of quality on that pitch. I don't care if we have 10% of the ball and have one shot, as long as that shot goes in and we keep the ball out

There I was pre match talking about Lukas Podolski being dropped to the bench to accommodate Tomas Rosicky but Arsene has had other ideas. Mathieu Flamini has been the one to be sacrificed and instead a fluid attacking side consisting of Cazorla, Podolski, Chamberlain and Rosicky. Kieran Gibbs is starting which is fantastic news.