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Goalkeeper dilemma
Goalkeepers win and lose you games and the same can be said about this Saturday’s final as well. Choosing between Wojciech Szczesny and David Ospina would be a critical decision for Arsene Wenger not just in terms of stating the hierarchy of goalkeepers in the club but to thwart the threats presented by Aston Villa. Villa, playing with Benteke, would be a handful for any side and Wenger has to make a decision on his shot stoppers keeping in mind the aerial threat presented by the Belgian in particular.
Both goalkeepers have their own list of pros and cons. Szczesny, the current cup goalkeeper for Arsenal is bound to start the final given how Wenger likes to maintain things. But the last cup final the Polish keeper played ended tragically for him and the club with a defensive mix up involving him giving another Birmingham side (Birmingham City) the trophy. Whereas Ospina has although earned his first team spot, has seen his form dip towards the end of the season making it a tougher decision than usual for Wenger.
Pace
Rather than talking about things that either sides have which the other does not have, the thing that perhaps would add sheen to the game would be the pace of both teams. Aston Villa have shown through the season, and particularly in the Sherwood reign, that they like the fast flowing counter-attacking style of play. Arsenal, too, have been able to realign themselves as a counter-attacking team this season majorly due to Alexis Sanchez’s arrival.
Tactically speaking, speed and speed on the counter would decide how expansive and open the game would be. We have seen how Jack Grealish and his pace gave Aston Villa a certain fillip against the much fancied Liverpool in the semi-final and it would be a similar procession in the final as well.
Grealish along with N’zogbia and Agbonlahor would be looking to get involved with the help of target man Benteke. Their prime target would be Per Mertesacker who is surely a chink in Arsenal’s armour when speedy counter attacks are the thing to be dealt with.
On the other side, Arsenal would be looking to utilize the speed of Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil to outdo Villa in this ploy.
