5.45pm BST

Good afternoon. It will be for someone, anyway. Most people seem to think Arsene Wenger will be celebrating in a few hours as he lifts a trophy that he once considered second-rate but must now views as crucial. Rarely can a Cup have seemed so pivotal: today's Final could be depicted as either the beginning of an era or the end of one. Win it and this Arsenal team will at last graduate from pretenders to victors, cast off the reputation as bottlers and seem well primed to use their post-Emirates-building booty money to add judicious reinforcements and embark on a new period of glory for the Gunners and ultimate vindication for Wenger. Lose it, on the other hand, and they will be damned as chronic chokers and many fans will call for Wenger to be ushered into retirement. The pressure, then, is ON.



Hull, meanwhile, have nothing to lose. Erm, except for THE BIGGEST MATCH OF THEIR LIVES! So they're under pressure too: don't listen to the cliche-spouters. But at least they will not be ridiculed as lily-livered losers unfit to wear their club's shirt or bestride their club's sidelines. No one doubts that Steve Bruce has done a terrific job since arriving at Hull and the club is in good hands, whether called City or Tigers. While Arsenal fans have spent the last nine years gnashing and wailing, Hull supporters have cheered the incredible resurrection of their club, as David Conn explains here.

Now, we have 90 minutes to kick-off. How do you suggest we occupy ourselves? Perhaps we could take inspiration from old TV coverage? Allow John Ashdown to drag you down memory lane.