Arsene Knows - Something

So it’s the last trip we’ll be making to Cardiff for a Cup Final (because Wembley will be open for business in May, right?) We are putting a relatively inexperienced team up against the reigning champions, so Arsene Wenger must be edgy and nervous, must he not?

Well, judging by yesterday’s press conference, no he isn’t. The creator of all things bright and beautiful in English football smiled and charmed his way through the session. By the end of it I was assured that he would ‘pick a team to win’ and that the players who had not featured in the earlier rounds would not compete.

There was enough of a glint in his eye to suggest he has genuine belief in his team’s ability to lift the trophy. The only cloud on the horizon being the injury scares involving full-backs Justin Hoyte and Gael Clichy. If fit, Hoyte would certainly claim a starting berth. Clichy could well understudy seventeen year old Armand Traore from on the bench.

Toure and Djourou are the likeliest central defensive partnership, unless Hoyte fails to make it, in which case I would not be surprised to see Wenger slightly contradict himself, and give William Gallas his first Carling Cup appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby and Denilson could all start as junior partners in midfield, chaperoned possibly by Rosicky. You can be sure that Wenger will have a couple of experienced heads on the bench, just in case. Gilberto and Hleb may be summoned if required.

The front two probably picks itself. Aliadiere and Baptista were devastating in the quarter-final triumph at Anfield and deserve the opportunity to embarrass a Chelsea defence deprived of its talisman, John Terry. Expect Adebayor to feature as a substitute at some stage.

As for Chelsea, we are assured that the thoroughly unpleasant Mourinho will send Essien back to partner Carvalho. I fear that may help them as they will be forced to select a genuine wide midfielder, perhaps Robben. The diving Dutchman would give Traore a stern test.

Even worse news is that Shevchenko appears to be shaking off his early season lethargy and is getting back to somewhere near his best. The potential of his partnership with Drogba, however short-term it may be, is frightening.

So there you have it. Chelsea will start as favourites as far as the bookmakers are concerned, but I really cannot see them keeping a clean sheet if the Diaby/Denilson axis is as impressive as it was little more than a week ago in Bolton. We will need whatever back four we can muster to shine, and perhaps enjoy a little good fortune along the way.

I don’t want to tempt fate here but I hope we have been practising penalties in training!