A place in the FA Cup final is at stake when Arsenal take on Reading this weekend at Wembley Stadium.
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The Gunners are the form team in English, even European, football with 16 wins in their last 18 games and are currently on an eight match winning streak in the Premier League.
Reading meanwhile have failed to win in the Championship since they actually booked their place in this semi-final and have taken a mere three points from their last six games as they look to avoid relegation to League One.
Whilst the north London side are clearly favourites, they will be wary of what a fight they could have on their hands if they underestimate the Championship side – they need only look at their battling semi-final with Wigan last year.
Here’s the side we think Arsene Wenger will pick to try and avoid a difficult afternoon in Wembley:
GK: Wojciech Szczesny
David Ospina pretty much has the starting role in the league nailed down after Szczesny’s ill-advised cigarette in January which has cost him so dear.
Whilst Arsene Wenger outcast him for several games, he’s relented to allow Szczesny to be this season’s de facto FA Cup keeper.
But it remains clear the Pole’s form in these games may have serious repercussions o his entire Arsenal future.
RB: Hector Bellerin
Bellerin posted a snap on Twitter yesterday showing just where he was the last time Arsenal graced Wembley for this season’s Community shield, the Spaniard was sat in the crowd taking a selfie with the team celebrating in the background.
#TBT Wembley at start of this season. A lot has happened in 8 months… pic.twitter.com/G4pBge34mI
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin) April 16, 2015
How much can change in a year. Given Reading’s penchant for a cross from the wings, Arsene Wenger could be tempted to start with the more muscular and defensively adept Calum Chambers but this could be just the game for Bellerin’s pace and tricky down the right to catch the Royals on the break when they foray just a little too high in the Arsenal half.