What a difference a week makes, Arsenal’s Monday night win against Middlesborough has seen more positive Gunners enter the Transfer Tavern this week.

The major talking point has come from Arsene Wenger’s decision to play a back three at the Riverside and it has caused much discussion among the Arsenal fans in the Tavern.

Our landlord agrees that something had to change within the north London side and the change may well give them the kick that they needed in order to finish the season strongly.

However, one win does not make it all rosy at the Emirates and Wenger’s men are coming up against a Manchester City side that they have failed to beat in two attempts this season with the most recent fixture between the two sides ending in a 2-2 draw at the Emirates earlier this month.

With that said, our landlord has been studying the Arsenal squad and believes this side do have the talent to go all the way in the FA Cup, they just lack a backbone. Our resident Gunners in the Tavern do agree and there has been much discussion about which players have the mettle to represent their club in their biggest game of the season.

Here is the XI they have come up with…

GK: Petr Cech

With a cloud still over normal cup keeper, David Ospina’s fitness – the Arsenal fans in the Tavern are begging Wenger to take no risks and put Cech in goal for this one.

The Czech keeper has had an indifferent season but our landlord believes he installs more trust among the Gunners’ back line when he plays.

CB: Gabriel Paulista

With Shkodran Mustafi still a doubt, Gabriel Paulista should play in this new-look back-three for Arsenal.

By no means the Gunners’ strongest defender, he’ll be looking to at least silence some critics in this one.

CB: Laurent Koscielny

Our landlord expects Koscielny to lead Arsenal out in this one and after missing the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace a week ago, our resident Gunners were excited to see the Frenchman back.

It is no secret that the Gunners are stronger when Koscielny plays and he will be expected to do a job on City’s hotshot, Sergio Aguero, if his side are to progress to the final.

CB: Rob Holding

Impressive as part of the defensive back three agianst Boro on Monday, Arsenal fans in the Tavern are calling for young Holding to keep his place in the Arsenal side for this one.

A young English prospect without much hype around them is a rarity these days but our landlord believes Holding is benefiting from the lack of expectation placed on him by fans and the media.

RWB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

The Englishman was impressive in a new role of right wing back against Boro last time out and our landlord expects Oxlade-Chamberlain to retain his place in the semi final.

A honest footballer, Gunners fans in the Tavern have really warmed to the England international and hope to see a strong finish to the end of the season.

CM: Aaron Ramsey

Without doing much wrong, our landlord believes Ramsey should retain his place against City.

The Welshman has been in and out of the side this season and this opportunity could give him the central role he has been craving albeit in a slightly deeper position.

CM: Granit Xhaka

Perhaps hindered by his big price tag from the summer, we have only seen glimpses of what Xhaka can do this season alongside his terrible disciplinary record.

Our landlord believes the Swiss international has a lot more to give and believes he possesses the talent to control this semi final against Manchester City.

LWB: Nacho Monreal

A man that always does the job asked of him, what Nacho Monreal lacks in talent is made up in heart and that is something the Arsenal fans in the Tavern really appreciate about the Spaniard.

With Arsene Wenger surely looking to strengthen in Monreal’s position come the summer, his end to the season is vital for his future to the club.

RF: Theo Walcott

With the Englishman scoring in both games against City this season, our resident Gunners believe Wenger must again unleash Walcott on Pep Guardiola’s men.

Benched against Middlesbrough, our landlord is not so sure of this pick especially in light of all Arsenal’s offensive talent.

ST: Alexis Sanchez

If Walcott does start, then our landlord believes Sanchez will be given the central role of the front three at Wembley on Sunday.

The Chilean has been in sensational form this season and with question marks over his future, an FA Cup could well be his final contribution to the Gunners.