Duo Set To Come In As Wenger Plans Changes For FA Cup Semi Final

Arsene Wenger is set to make changes to his midfield for this weekend’s crucial FA Cup semi final against Wigan Athletic with Aaron Ramsey and Kim Kallstrom tipped to start, according to the Mirror.

Ramsey made his long-awaited return from a serious thigh injury as a second half substitute against Everton last weekend and the 23-year-old appears to have felt no ill-effects from his 25 minute cameo.

With Mathieu Flamini suspended after picking up his 10th booking of the season at Goodison Park and the likes of Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil still out injured, Mirror journalist John Cross claims that Arsene is set to hand Rambo his first start of 2014 in what’s arguably our most important game of the season so far.

The Welshman looked fresh when he came on against the Toffees so hopefully he can get a full weeks training under his belt and be raring to go against the Championship side on Saturday, as we’ve sorely missed his energy in the middle recently.

Cross also suggests that Wenger knows that with vital Premier League games against West Ham and Hull quickly following the FA Cup clash with Wigan, Mikel Arteta isn’t going to be able to start all three games, so on-loan Swedish international Kim Kallstrom is also in-line to make his first start for the club.

It would be a huge call for the boss to start Kallstrom at Wembley given many feel the Frenchman’s job is on the line if he fails to lift the FA Cup this season, so I’d personally feel more comfortable if he started against West Ham at the Emirates the following Tuesday.

Arteta has no doubt been suffering lately and he looks knackered, but many forget much of his good early-season form was played with Ramsey alongside him, so hopefully we could see a more assured display from the 32-year-old if they are paired together again this weekend.

As well as the potential changes in midfield, Lukasz Fabiansk is almost certain to come in for Wojciech Szczesny in goal and I’d be surprised if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t also start, while there has been a growing feeling among supporters that Yaya Sanogo should be given a run-out up front in place of Olivier Giroud.

What team would you like to see picked this weekend? Share your views below.