STEVE Bruce will urge his free-scoring Hull City attack to pose questions of Arsenal's injury-hit defence as the Tigers aim to avenge their heart-breaking FA Cup final defeat.
Five months after the Gunners edged a compelling encounter at Wembley through Aaron Ramsey's extra-time winner, the two teams meet again for the first time this afternoon.
Arsenal are firm favourites to record another victory over City in the capital but a squad ravaged by injury and suspension offers the visitors hope of an upset.
While defenders Laurent Koscielny and Calum Chambers joined Arsenal's lengthy list of absentees, that includes Ramsey, Mathieu Debuchy, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, City are almost at full strength following the international break.
Bruce played down the problems facing his counterpart Arsene Wenger ahead of the Tigers' visit to the Emirates Stadium today, but accepted City's best chance will be to attack their hosts.
"All you can ask for when you play against the big 'uns is that you play to your maximum," said Bruce.
"Go and take them on. That's the biggest thing we have to do and we will. I'm quietly confident of that.
"They might have defensive issues but look at the players they've got up front. Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck. The reason they're a great side is their squad.
"You don't finish in the top four all these years in this country without having a really good squad and a really good manager.
"I remember going to play them in the League Cup with Wigan (in 2008). I got their team-sheet and thought we were playing their youth team. They kicked our backsides 3-0 and we never got a kick."
If Arsenal's injury woes offer City encouragement, so should the events of May 17.
Despite starting the FA Cup final as rank outsiders, the Tigers came within 19 minutes of winning a first piece of silverware.
Goals from James Chester and Curtis Davies had City leading 2-0 and only when Koscielny pounced in the 71st minute, joining Santi Cazorla on the score-sheet, were Bruce's side pegged back.
Ramsey's 108th minute winner eventually killed off the Tigers' last hope but a repeat of the FA Cup final will see a strengthened City side seek revenge.
Bruce said: "I'd like to think we've got a stronger side, certainly a stronger squad. That's fair to say. The lads that played in that cup final or were on the bench were magnificent. We just ran out of juice.
"The final was a marvellous occasion for everybody. We played to our maximum and it was extra-time before we lost. Everyone had a wonderful day but we lost and it could have been so much more.
"We were close to pulling off one of the big shocks in an FA Cup Final but it didn't quite happen. We put up a hell of a show that day and hopefully we can do that again at the Emirates.
"We weren't quite good enough but we gave it everything we had. As a manager, you can't ask for anything more."
Bruce reported no fresh injury concerns from the international break but will not make a decision on Mohamed Diame's involvement until this morning.
The in-form midfielder only met up with his City team-mates yesterday afternoon after playing in Senegal's African Cup of Nations tie with Tunisia on Wednesday and Bruce stressed no chances will be taken if there are signs of fatigue.
