Arsenal vs Middlesbrough team news: Wojciech Szczesny will start and Gabriel Paulista will make debut

The FA Cup fifth-round tie is on Sunday

Wojciech Szczesny will start for Arsenal against Middlesbrough

Arsene Wenger has confirmed that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will start for Arsenal against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round tie at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

"Wojciech Szczesny will play," Wenger said today. "He is completely ready and determined to play."

The Polish stopper Szczesny has lost his place as the Gunners No 1 to David Ospina in recent weeks, after both a loss of form and the controversy after he was caught smoking in the changing room after the 2-0 defeat at Southampton.

His last start came in the FA Cup, in the 3-2 victory at Brighton in January.

Wengermay also play defender Gabriel Paulista, the January signing from Villarreal, who is "very close" to his debut.

"He likes to defend. It's more and more difficult to find people like that," Wenger said.

"[He is] a player who has overall good qualities: good pace, good in the air, good in one against one.

"But it's best I don't talk too much and let him play and he shows how good he is."

Jack Wilshere's return would be a boost, too, but Wenger warned not to expect too much too soon of the England midfielder.

"He's motivated and focused to come back as quickly as possible," the Frenchman added.

"He worked very hard. But he has still been out for four months. What he needs now is to get back. Competition gives you that sharpness training cannot give you, because it's about a combination of fitness and speed of decision making and it takes a while to get that back."

Wilshere, who has twice been seen with a cigarette in his hand, much to the dismay of Wenger, was recently rebuked by the Gunners boss for being pictured holding a shisha pipe at a nightclub.

England boss Roy Hodgson was asked about the episode on Thursday and was nonplussed by "a faint fruity taste" when he tried a shisha pipe.

When Hodgson's comments were put to Wenger, he smiled and said: "Some people must love it because they do it. I never tried, so I cannot tell you anything about that."

Additional reporting by PA