Hello and welcome to our coverage of the FA Cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Wembley. It’s been a dismal few days for football, what with Sepp Blatter winning re-election yesterday, so let’s treat this as a prestigious palette-cleanser and a reminder that football isn’t all about shady back-room deals and FBI raids – it’s the glory game, where legends are made and history rewritten.

Ashley Westwood on the Tim Sherwood effect: "I have heard its not a nice place to lose, hopefully can climb those steps and do it for our fans. The run we went on in the Premier League, it got our confidence up. We are coming into it fresh. The manager has played a big part in helping us get here today," he told the BBC.

Big day for Christian Benteke, could this be his final game for Villa? He will be partnered by Charles N'Zogbia, a surprise selection ahead of Gabriel Agbonlahor.

More than 700 teams took part in this season's competition and we're now down to the final two..

The last FA Cup meeting between these two sides came in 2012, when Villa led 2-0 at half-time only to see the Gunners fight back to win 3-2.

Arsenal are out on the pitch warming up in their fetching yellow and black striped training tops. Meanwhile, Tim Sherwood admits Theo Walcott starting the game has given him plenty to think about. "The starting positions of our defenders need to be looked at it,” he told the BBC. "We will let them make decisions on the pitch. If there is no pressure on the ball, drop off. We can't get beat by the long ball.”

The neutrals will be hoping for a similar final as last year when Arsenal came from two goals behind to beat Hull. And the stats show that all eight FA Cup finals at the new Wembley have been won by a one goal margin.

Good afternoon everyone, 45 minutes from kick-off. This will be Arsenal’s 19th FA Cup final, a record for any team, and the Gunners have won a joint high of 11 finals. They have certainly emjoyed this tournament under Arsene Wenger.

The big talking point in the Villa team is dropping Bacuna for Alan Hutton. As we discussed, Bacuna has linked up really well with Benteke but Hutton offers a more defensive outlook, and more unbridled menace. Which is always handy against Arsenal. Villa line up with Grealish at the peak of a midfield diamond, with N'Zogbia and Benteke ahead of him.

TEAMS: Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Vlaar, Okore, Richardson, Westwood, Delph, Cleverley, Grealish, N'Zogbia, Benteke. Subs: Guzan, Bacuna, Sinclair, Agbonlahor, Cole, Sanchez, Baker.

TEAMS: Arsenal: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Walcott. Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.

Wow. Theo Walcott gets the nod in attack ahead of Olivier Giroud thanks to that wonderful performance against West Brom on the final day. Szczesny also gets a start - his final one for the club? Full teams with you shortly...

Scott Murray's piece focused on how Arsene Wenger's achievements in English football have been overlooked. It's a good read.

WhoScored looked at how Tim Sherwood has got the best out of Benteke - and the important role played by Bacuna in that regard.