FA Cup: Arsenal in crisis ahead of final

Arsenal could field an experimental defensive line in the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday as most of their first-choice central defenders will be unable to play. French defender Laurent Koscielny is suspended for the match, Gabriel Paulista left Sunday's league match against Everton on a stretcher, while Shkodran Mustafi suffered a head concussion during Thursday's game against Sunderland. The German defender's problem seems serious as he has already missed the final Premier league match of the season. Arsenal were hoping to move up to fourth place on Sunday by beating Everton, but they depended on the result between Liverpool and Middlesbrough. Liverpool won their match and left Arsenal in fifth place and with lots of worries ahead of the FA Cup final. Laurent Koscielny was sent off during the first half against Everton, so he will be suspended for the FA Cup final, while injured Gabriel was replaced by veteran Per Mertesacker, who made his very first appearance of the season after a lengthy recovery from a knee injury. Manager Arsene Wenger might choose to revert to a four-man defense for Saturday's final, with Per Mertesacker and Rob Holing at at the heart of the back four, but he could also form a three-man line with Nacho Monreal. Either way, it would be a makeshift defense against a team like Chelsea that features the likes of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard in attack. Chelsea have already won their piece of silverware this season as they clinched the Premier League title during Antonio Conte's first season in charge. Arsenal are 15/8 at Bet365 to win the FA Cup on Saturday.