Arsenal vs Aston Villa: Arsene Wenger challenges players not picked for FA Cup final to be ready if their chance comes at Wembley

The Arsenal manager confirmed that his striker Danny Welbeck will miss this weekend's match

Wenger was speaking ahead of Arsenal's penultimate Premier League game against Sunderland (Getty Images)

Arsène Wenger has challenged the players he does not pick for the FA Cup final to be his heroes on Saturday.

The Arsenal manager faces a series of selection dilemmas – one over his goalkeeper – but has told those left out that they can settle the final regardless. Jack Wilshere, for example, did not start the 2014 FA Cup final but created the winning goal for Aaron Ramsey.

“I just think it is important to focus as a whole squad on winning the trophy,” Wenger said. “Most of the time the heroes are the people who come on in an FA Cup final – they make the difference.

“I have some big selection decisions to make. Even to leave some top internationals out of the squad shows that we have a very big squad.”

Wenger confirmed that striker Danny Welbeck will miss the final, as well as England’s forthcoming matches against the Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

Wenger said: “He did not train until Friday. I knew that he would be short for the FA Cup final. When I saw [England coach] Roy Hodgson last we were both confident that Welbeck would be available, but we called the FA to explain that his bone bruising at the knee was not healed and that he had to rest. I don’t know what Roy will say.”