17.05.2014 17:15 h

Football: Arsenal's Fabianski gets FA Cup final chance

Arsenal in der Krise
Arsenal in der Krise

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger kept faith with second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski for Saturday's FA Cup final against Premier League rivals Hull City at Wembley Stadium.

Fabianski, 29, usually provides back-up to Wojciech Szczesny, but he has stood in for his fellow Pole in this season's domestic cup competitions.

Jack Wilshere was named on the bench for Arsenal after recently returning from a two-month lay-off with a fractured foot, but fellow England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed out due to a groin problem.

Arsenal's player of the season Aaron Ramsey was paired alongside Mikel Arteta in midfield, with Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and record signing Mesut Ozil providing support for lone striker Olivier Giroud.

Hull centre-back James Chester overcame a hamstring injury to line up in a three-man defence alongside captain Curtis Davies and Alex Bruce, the son of manager Steve Bruce.

In the absence of cup-tied strikers Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, Matty Fryatt led the line ahead of Stephen Quinn.

Allan McGregor started in goal for Hull, despite having sustained broken ribs, kidney damage and internal bleeding during a game at West Ham United only seven weeks ago.

Arsenal are seeking to end a nine-year trophy drought and claim a record-equalling 11th FA Cup, while Hull are appearing in the final for the first time in their 110-year history.

Starting line-ups in the 133rd FA Cup final between Arsenal and Hull City at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday (1600 GMT kick-off):

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)

Lukasz Fabianski; Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Mikel Arteta (capt), Aaron Ramsey; Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski; Olivier Giroud

Coach: Arsene Wenger (FRA)

Hull City (3-5-1-1)

Allan McGregor; Curtis Davies (capt), Alex Bruce, James Chester; Ahmed Elmohamady, Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone, David Meyler, Liam Rosenior; Stephen Quinn; Matty Fryatt

Coach: Steve Bruce (ENG)