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Arsenal vs Aston Villa FA Cup final combined XI: Does Christian Benteke join Alexis Sanchez in the lineup?

After struggling for most of the season, will any Villa players make the cut?

Friday 29 May 2015 17:34 BST

Sanchez makes the cut, but will any Villa players join him? (Getty Images)

Arsenal face Aston Villa at Wembley on Saturday in an FA Cup final involving two of the competition's most successful sides.

The Gunners, who finished third in the Premier League to qualify for the Champions League for the eighteenth season in succession, have won the tournament eleven times, joint-first with Manchester United.

Villa, who finished 17th after Tim Sherwood dragged them out of the relegation zone to safety, have claimed the trophy seven times.

The teams may have experienced vastly different fortunes in the league this season, but history tells us that the form book does not always count on FA Cup final day.

Both sides have overcome stiff opposition on their route to Wembley. Arsenal faced a tricky third-round clash with the side they defeat in last year's final, Hull, before overcoming Manchester United at Old Trafford in the sixth round, and seeing off a brave Reading side in the semi-finals.

Villa beat Liverpool to reach the FA Cup final (Getty) (Getty Images)

Villa dispatched their West Midlands rivals West Brom in the sixth round, a victory which sparked wild pitch invasions at Villa Park and helped to kick-start their season, before turning things round to beat Liverpool 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final.

The scene is set for a fascinating final but, based on their form over the course of the whole season, which players from either side would get into a combined team? And after their dismal showing for much of the campaign, do any Villa players deserve to make the cut?

The line-up is selected based on these predicted line-ups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Özil, Sanchez; Giroud

Aston Villa: Given, Bacuna, Vlaar, Okore, Richardson; Westwood, Cleverley, Delph; N’Zogbia, Grealish; Benteke

Scroll through the gallery to see the team:

Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Show all 11

1/11Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Wojciech Szczesny (Arsenal)

While David Ospina has usurped Szczesny's spot in the Premier League, the towering Pole has been an ever-present in the Gunners' FA Cup campaign and is likely to regain his place. Shay Given, who should line up for Villa, has acquitted himself well in the cup, but shipped five first-half goals to Southampton in the Premier League in his most recent outing.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

Bellerin has been one of the finds of the season for Arsene Wenger, the 20-year-old displacing Calum Chambers as first-choice right-back following Mathieu Debuchy's injury troubles. Leandro Bacuna, who should start for Villa, has offered plenty going forward but his defending has personified a leaky back four.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)

The German centre-back has had his critics this season, and admitted that his form suffered after he came back victorious from the World Cup. However, he has been integral to the Gunners' run of just 11 goals conceded in the final 18 Premier League games. Villa's own World Cup star, Ron Vlaar, suffers in comparison.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)

It was no coincidence that Arsenal's defence looked vulnerable in the early season, when the Frenchman was missing with an achilles injury. Koscielny is much more mobile than his defensive partner, and has been in fine form since Christmas. Jores Okore, who missed last season for injury, has at aleast had a run of games for Villa, but remains too error-prone to challenge his opposite number.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Nacho Monreal (Arsenal)

The Spanish left-back has made the position his own after Kieran Gibbs struggled for form and fitness. Struggled in the middle, but has been a solid, calming influence and deceptively good going forward. His opposite number Kieran Richardson has been in and out of the side in a frustrating first season at Villa Park.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Francis Coquelin (Arsenal)

It is unfortunate for Ashley Westwood, who has been one of Villa's more underrated and consistent performers this season, to come up against Coquelin. The Frenchman has been one of the Premier League's breakout stars, and has been compared to a £40m by Wenger.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)

Ramsey hasn't had quite the impact he made during a sensational 2013/14 season, but has scored 10 goals in all competitions and when fit remains one of English football's most effective midfielders. Tom Cleverley finished the season in fine goalscoring form, but spent much of the campaign struggling for consistency.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)

Fabian Delph broke into the England side at the start of the season, but struggled to maintain form and fitness despite some energetic displays. Cazorla, on the other hand, has been superb for the Gunners, playing 52 games in all competitions and pulling the strings in the side's best displays of the season.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)

He has been overshadowed in large parts by the club's more recent big-money signing, Alexis Sanchez, but Ozil has put in a string of influential, classy displays in the second half of the season. Charles N'Zogbia, who is likely to start for Villa, remains an inconsistent, mercurial figure.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

Jack Grealish may have earned plaudits in the final weeks of the season for his promising displays, but Alexis Sanchez has enjoyed one of the best debut seasons in Premier League history, contributing 16 goals and eight assists. Despite a post-Christmas dip in form, the Chilean is the real deal.

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Arsenal vs Aston Villa combined XI

Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)

Yes, Christian Benteke has finished the season in absurdly good form, with 12 goals in 12 games. And yes, Giroud's shooting boots deserted him in spectacular style against Monaco. However, the Frenchman, who has had more than his fair share of critics, has scored more goals in less games this season than Benteke, who struggled woefully for goals until Tim Sherwood took the reigns at Villa. Giroud is harder working, brings teammates into the game better and just gets the nod over his opposite number.

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