Arsenal fans will be celebrating another FA Cup final this weekend after their 2-1 win over Reading at Wembley, but this game left a number of unanswered questions for the Gunners to ponder for the remainder of the season, including some tricky selection choices for Arsene Wenger for the final…
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1) Should Szczesny play the final?
In many ways, Wojciech Szczesny is a very lucky man indeed for his opposite number Adam Federici committing an abolute howler in the Reading goal for Arsenal’s winner, because the Polish goalkeeper himself could certainly have done a lot better on the goal he let in at the start of the second half. A weak shot went past him far too easily via a slight deflection that shouldn’t really have made that much of a difference, reminding fans why he has been dropped from the team in Premier League games.
With David Ospina clearly playing better at the moment, can Arsene Wenger afford to continue this policy of fielding a different goalkeeper in the cup? With the title out of site and a top four spot surely safe, the final at Wembley is now the club’s most important game of the season, and should therefore see the strongest possible team take to the pitch, and that means Szczesny can be counted out.
2) Why was Debuchy risked?
Clearly not close to being fully fit, why was Mathieu Debuchy given the nod over the in-form youngster Hector Bellerin? The Frenchman is certainly a good player on his day, but given the amount of playing time he’s missed this season, the former Newcastle man’s inclusion from the start in such an important game was a huge risk. Bellerin may need a rest after playing more games than expected, but why in a cup semi-final that could decide your season? After so many years of trusting his youngsters, is Wenger now being too cautious about answering fans’ calls for more experienced heads, even when they’re not necessarily the better option? Does a similar fate await the excellent Francis Coquelin when Mikel Arteta returns from injury?
3) Does Walcott have a future at the club?
Not brought on until the 101st minute, Theo Walcott looked an easy choice for inclusion in this game, but was left out in favour of an ineffective Aaron Ramsey playing out of position on the right. For most of the game the Gunners struggled to open up a very defensive Reading side who had everyone back, limiting Wenger’s side’s options in the middle. Walcott would have given the width, pace and variety that the team needed, but it may be that his future at the club really is up if he can’t get the nod in a game against a Championship side until midway through extra time.
4) How many more chances will Welbeck get?
It was another poor performance from Danny Welbeck in an Arsenal shirt, casting further doubt over his future at the club. Trusted ahead of the in-form Olivier Giroud, the former Manchester United man had minimal impact on the match for the 72 minutes he played, and the team looked noticeably better when he was taken off and replaced by the far superior Frenchman, who is clearly stronger in almost every aspect apart from pace, though it still looks like Welbeck doesn’t know how to use this attitribute to its best effect. His goal against United in the quarter-final was a high point of this season, but he has generally not taken the chances when they’ve come his way and it doesn’t look like there’s any case for him starting the final.
5) Do Arsenal lack a big game mentality?
As they did in last season’s FA Cup final against Hull City, and as they have done in many games against the big sides this season and last, Arsenal just didn’t show up for the start of this match. Once again, one has to question the big-game mentality of many of Arsenal’s players after such a lacklustre showing in such an important game at Wembley. They may only have been playing a struggling Championship side, but if they can’t raise their game and play their best in a cup semi-final then there’s something going wrong somewhere. As they did against Hull, they got away with it as they started to play when they knew they were in trouble, but that could cost them if they end up meeting Aston Villa in the final and taking them lightly. In many ways, Arsenal fans will be hoping it’s Liverpool they come up against, as that same level of complacency is unlikely.