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By Our Sports Desk
ARSENE WENGER has told his Arsenal side to go out and “finish the job” against Aston Villa in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
After finishing third in the Premier League and scooping automatic Champions League qualification Wenger will be hoping to cap off the season by retaining the illustrious trophy, following a hard-fought come back against Hull last year.
“It’s not easy to get to the FA Cup final and it’s not easy to finish in the top three in England,” Wenger said.
“We have been remarkably consistent since January and that’s why I think we have a good chance next season.”
The Gunners, who beat Villa 3-0 and 5-0 in the league this season, cruised to a 4-1 victory against West Brom on the last day of the season with goal-scorers Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere returning from injury to provide the Frenchman with a selection headache.
“I don’t know who will start yet. Nobody knows at the moment. I just think it is important to focus as a whole squad on winning the trophy,” said Wenger.
“Most of the time the heroes are the people who come on in an FA Cup final - they make the difference.”
But as the Reds discovered last year, no cup final team is a pushover and Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood has warned Arsenal they should be having sleepless nights before facing sought after striker Christian Benteke.
Having struggled for form and fitness, Benteke has been rejuvenated under new manager Tim Sherwood with 12 goals in his last 12 games — including grabbing the first for the Villains in their 2-1 semi-final win over Liverpool.
“He’s back to his best now, bullying defenders and I’m sure they’ll have sleepless nights, they won’t want to be playing against him,” Westwood said.
If Arsenal triumph over Villa, who have reached their first FA Cup final in 15 years, Wenger will become the first manger to pick up six FA Cups in the post-war period — matching George Ramsay who claimed his sixth with Villa in 1920.
