Arsenal have retained the FA Cup after defeating Southampton by 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Having seen their Champions League and Premiership dreams shattered this season, Arsenal took the lead late in the first half through Robert Pires before withstanding an energetic second-half fightback by Southampton.
Arsenal should have made a flying start immediately from the kick-off when Ljungberg released Thierry Henry and the Frenchman burst through the Saints defence, evading a desperate challenge by Claus Lundekvam, only to fire straight at Antti Niemi from a glorious position, after only 20 seconds of play.
Henry nearly broke the deadlock again in the ninth minute, turning Wayne Bridge and firing in a shot which Niemi blocked but only parried into the path of Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutchman rounded the goalkeeper and from a tight angle prodded the ball goalwards, but Northern Ireland’s Chris Baird was in the right place at the right time to clear off the line.
Southampton grew in confidence though and a Matt Oakley long throw caused havoc in the Arsenal box before Michael Svensson lashed the ball high and wide. Then an Oakley corner was comfortably cleared but the ball fell to Baird, who curled a shot towards the far corner, forcing David Seaman to scramble across his goal and save at the second attempt.
Pires scored what proved to be the only goal of the final after 38 minutes. Henry flicked the ball through to an on-rushing Bergkamp, who crossed for Ljungberg to tee up Pires, who buried his shot beyond Niemi.
In the second half, Paul Telfer saw his header from Oakley's corner drift just over the crossbar before Henry broke forward and saw his low, curling shot tipped behind by Niemi.
Niemi fell to the floor in agony in the 63rd minute, clutching his right leg after a kick clear and he was replaced by Paul Jones. Then in the 68th Henry blotted his copybook with an extravagant dive in the penalty area which earned him a booking.
Jo Tessem, on as a 74th-minute substitute for Anders Svensson, almost netted with his first touch after meeting Telfer's cross at the far post but he fired into the ground and the ball was cleared and that was to be the Saints’ final chance until injury time.
Southampton won a corner after four minutes of stoppage timeand it was met in the box by Beattie, his header was cleared off the line though by Ashley Cole and Arsenal held on to become the first side to retain the FA Cup since north London rivals Tottenham 21 years ago.
Filed by Johnny Proby
