View source for 2003 FA Cup final

{{Short description|Association football championship match between Arsenal and Southampton, held in 2003}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2014}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{For|the women's event|2003 FA Women's Cup final}}
{{Infobox football match
|                   title = 2003 FA Cup final
|                   image = 2003 FA Cup Final programme.jpg
|                 caption = The [[Football programme|match programme]] cover
|                   event = [[2002–03 FA Cup]]
|                   team1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|              team1score = 1
|                   team2 = [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
|              team2score = 0
|                    date = 17 May 2003
|                 stadium = [[Millennium Stadium]]
|                    city = [[Cardiff]]
|      man_of_the_match1a = [[Thierry Henry]] (Arsenal)
|                 referee = [[Graham Barber]] ([[Hertfordshire County Football Association|Hertfordshire]])
|              attendance = 73,726
|                 weather = Rainy<br />13&nbsp;°C (55&nbsp;°F)<ref>{{cite web|title=History for Cardiff-Wales, United Kingdom|url=http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EGFF/2003/5/17/DailyHistory.html?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA|work=Weather Underground|access-date=4 January 2013}}</ref>
|                previous = [[2002 FA Cup final|2002]]
|                    next = [[2004 FA Cup final|2004]]
}}
The '''2003 FA Cup final''' was the 122nd [[FA Cup Final|final]] of the [[FA Cup]], the world's oldest domestic [[Association football|football]] cup competition.<ref>{{cite news |title=History of The FA Cup |url=http://www.thefa.com/Competitions/FACompetitions/TheFACup/History/HistoryOfTheFACup.aspx |work=TheFA.com |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=17 March 2012 }}</ref> The final took place on Saturday 17 May 2003 at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]], in front of a crowd of 73,726. It was the third consecutive year the final was played at the stadium, due to the ongoing reconstruction of [[Wembley Stadium]], the final's usual venue. The 2003 final was the first to be played indoors; the roof was closed because of bad weather. The clubs contesting the final were [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], the holders of the competition and [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]. This was Arsenal's sixteenth appearance in a final to Southampton's fourth.

As [[Premier League]] clubs, Arsenal and Southampton entered the FA Cup in the third round, which meant each club needed to progress through five rounds to reach the final.  Arsenal made a convincing start, they won their opening three rounds, but needed a sixth-round [[Replay (sports)|replay]] against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. By contrast, Southampton played one replay in the fourth round against [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]].  Arsenal entered the match as favourites and had beaten Southampton 6–1 nine days earlier in the league. Goalkeeper [[David Seaman]] [[Captain (association football)|captained]] Arsenal in the absence of the injured [[Patrick Vieira]]; it was to be Seaman's last appearance for the club. In defence for Southampton, [[Chris Baird]] made only his second competitive start. [[Chris Marsden]] captained the club in the absence of the injured club captain, [[Jason Dodd]].

Arsenal began the match more effectively of the two and scored what proved to be the winning goal in the latter minutes of the first half – [[Freddie Ljungberg]]'s rebounded goal effort was converted by [[Robert Pires]]. Midway through the second half, Southampton goalkeeper [[Antti Niemi (footballer)|Antti Niemi]] was substituted, as he strained his calf muscle; he was replaced by [[Paul Jones (footballer, born 1967)|Paul Jones]]. In stoppage time, striker [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] had his header cleared off the line by [[Ashley Cole]], in what was the final chance for Southampton.

Arsenal's win made them the first team to retain the trophy since [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in 1982. They later played against [[2002–03 FA Premier League|league champions]] Manchester United in the [[2003 FA Community Shield]]. Given Arsenal had already qualified for Europe via their league position, their [[2003–04 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] spot was awarded to runners-up Southampton.

==Route to the final==
{{see also|2002–03 FA Cup}}

===Arsenal===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
<!-- |+ '''Arsenal''' -->
!width="25" | Round
!width="150" | Opposition
!width="50" | Score
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 3rd
| [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] (h)
| 2–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 4th
| [[Farnborough F.C.|Farnborough Town]] (a)
| 5–1
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 5th
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] (a)
| 2–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center" rowspan="2" | 6th
| [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] (h)
| 2–2
|-
| Chelsea (a)
| 3–1
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| Semi-final
| [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] ([[Old Trafford|n]])
| 1–0
|-
| colspan="3" style="background-color:white;"| <small>'''Key:''' (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue; (n) = [[Home advantage#Neutral venues|Neutral venue]].</small>
|}

Arsenal entered the competition in the third round, receiving a bye as a [[Premier League]] club. Their opening match was a 2–0 home win against Oxford United on 4 January 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2607165.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 January 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |title=Arsenal end Oxford dream}}</ref> Striker [[Dennis Bergkamp]] scored his 100th goal for the club and an own goal by defender [[Scott McNiven]] ensured progression to the next round.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/06/match.sport3 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=6 January 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |first=Simon |last=Burnton  |title=Bergkamp worthy of ton of respect}}</ref> Arsenal faced non-league side [[Farnborough F.C.|Farnborough Town]]; the match switched from Farnborough's ground at [[Cherrywood Road]] to [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]] due to concerns over safety.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jan/09/sport.media |work=[[The Guardian]]|date=9 January 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |last=Bradley |first=Mark |title=Farnborough to switch cup tie}}</ref> Farnborough began the match as the home team and conceded the first goal, scored by Arsenal defender [[Sol Campbell]] in the 19th minute. They went down to ten men after [[Christian Lee (footballer)|Christian Lee]] was sent off for a professional foul in the 28th minute. [[Francis Jeffers]] scored twice before [[Rocky Baptiste]] added a consolation, beating [[Pascal Cygan]] for pace and despite having his first shot saved by goalkeeper [[Stuart Taylor (footballer born 1980)|Stuart Taylor]], he managed to lift the ball over him and into the net. [[Lauren (Cameroonian footballer)|Lauren]] and Bergkamp each scored in the final 15 minutes to give Arsenal a 5–1 victory.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2671825.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |title=Arsenal cruise through}}</ref>

Arsenal's fifth round match was away to league rivals [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]] on 16 February 2003. After [[Ryan Giggs]] missed the chance to score past an open goal, midfielder [[Edu (footballer, born 1978)|Edu]] gave Arsenal the lead through a free kick which took a deflection off [[David Beckham]]'s shoulder. Striker [[Sylvain Wiltord]] scored the second goal of the match in the 52nd minute, running onto a pass from Edu and side-footing the ball past goalkeeper [[Fabien Barthez]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2740035.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=Arsenal cruise past Man Utd}}</ref> Arsenal captain [[Patrick Vieira]] said of the performance: "We knew when we lost here in the league that we had lost the battle in midfield. We had to put that right, and we did."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/feb/16/match.sport1|newspaper=[[The Observer]] |location=London |date=16 February 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |last=Wilson |first=Paul |title=Arsenal triumph as Giggs goes missing}}</ref> In the sixth round, Arsenal was drawn at home to [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in a repeat of the [[2002 FA Cup final|previous season's final]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2769829.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=London giants collide}}</ref> Chelsea defender [[John Terry]] put Chelsea ahead with a [[Glossary of association football terms#H|header]] from a [[Set piece (football)|set piece]] before Arsenal responded through Jeffers and [[Thierry Henry]]. [[Frank Lampard]] scored a late equaliser for the visiting team meaning the match was [[Replay (sports)|replayed]] at [[Stamford Bridge (football)|Stamford Bridge]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2805009.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 March 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=Chelsea hold Arsenal}}</ref> An own goal by Terry and a strike by Wiltord in the space of seven minutes during the replay gave Arsenal an early lead against Chelsea. Despite going down to ten men after Cygan was sent off and Terry scoring from a header, the away team scored a third goal through Lauren to ensure progression into the semi-finals.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2873509.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 March 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=Arsenal brush aside Chelsea}}</ref> In the semi-final against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on 13 April 2003 at Old Trafford, [[Freddie Ljungberg]] scored the winning goal to help Arsenal reach their third successive FA Cup final appearance.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2917575.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 April 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=Arsenal sink brave Blades}}</ref> The match was best remembered for [[David Seaman]]'s late save, which prevented Sheffield United from equalising.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/apr/14/match.sport9 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=14 April 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |title=Super Seaman defies time and gravity to end Blades odyssey}}</ref>

===Southampton===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right"
<!-- |+ '''Southampton''' -->
!width="25" | Round
!width="150" | Opposition
!width="50" | Score
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 3rd
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] (h)
| 4–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center" rowspan="2" | 4th
| [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] (h)
| 1–1
|-
| Millwall (a)
| 2–1
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 5th
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] (h)
| 2–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| 6th
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] (h)
| 2–0
|-
!scope=row style="text-align:center"| Semi-final
| [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] ([[Villa Park|n]])
| 2–1
|-
| colspan="3" style="background-color:white;"| <small>'''Key:''' (h) = Home venue; (a) = Away venue; (n) = [[Home advantage#Neutral venues|Neutral venue]].</small>
|}

Like Arsenal, as a Premier League club, Southampton received a bye into the third round. Their opening match was a 4–0 win against fellow league club [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. A goal by defender [[Michael Svensson]] and three from [[Jo Tessem]], [[Anders Svensson (footballer, born 1976)|Anders Svensson]] and [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] in the second half was the second straight victory against Tottenham, having beaten them on New Year's Day in the league.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2607231.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 January 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=Saints thrash Spurs}}</ref> In the fourth round, Southampton was drawn at home to [[Football League First Division|First Division]] club [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] on 25 January 2003. The visitors took the lead through striker [[Steve Claridge]] but were denied victory. 90 seconds from the end of the match as Southampton striker [[Kevin Davies]] scored from a rebounded shot.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2671837.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 January 2003 |access-date=13 March 2012 |title=Last-gasp Saints deny Lions}}</ref> In the replay, midfielder [[Matthew Oakley]] scored twice for Southampton (one in both halves) either side of a [[Steven Reid]] equaliser for Millwall.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2708849.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 February 2003 |access-date=17 March 2012 |title=Saints tame Lions}}</ref>

Southampton's fifth round match was against [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] at home on 5 February 2003. Two goals in the space of three minutes, scored by Svensson and Tessem was enough to take the team into the quarter-finals.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2740041.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2003 |access-date=17 March 2012 |title=Saints see off Norwich}}</ref> Southampton defender [[Claus Lundekvam]] was pleased with the win and said following the match: "When you get to this stage in the competition you have to believe you can win it."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2768269.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 February 2003 |access-date=17 March 2012 |title=Lundekvam eyes FA Cup glory}}</ref> The club then faced [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] at home in the following round. Former Wolves player [[Chris Marsden]] gave Southampton the lead right in the 56th minute and with nine minutes remaining of normal time, the team added a second goal when Jo Tessem's shot took a deflection off [[Paul Butler (footballer born 1972)|Paul Butler]]'s legs to go inside the goal net.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/mar/10/match.sport8 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 March 2003 |access-date=17 March 2012 |last=Brodkin|first=Jon |title=Super Wolves softened up by old boy Marsden}}</ref> The victory meant Southampton reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 17 years.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2805037.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 March 2003 |access-date=17 March 2012 |title=Saints tame Wolves}}</ref> At [[Villa Park]], Southampton played First Division team [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] on 13 April 2003. Brett Ormerod opened the scoring two minutes before half time and set up the second goal which saw the ball being taken over the line by Watford defender [[Paul Robinson (footballer born December 1978)|Paul Robinson]]. Despite [[Marcus Gayle]] scoring a late header to half the scoreline Southampton won the match.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2399604/Ormerod-destroys-Watford-dream.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Christopher |last=Davies |location=London |date=14 April 2003 |access-date=18 March 2012 |title=Ormerod destroys Watford dream}}</ref>

==Pre-match==
[[File:Bobby_Robson_Cropped.jpg|thumb|180px|Sir [[Bobby Robson]] was the chief guest for the final, and presented the trophy to the winners]]
Arsenal was appearing in the final of the FA Cup for the sixteenth time. They had won the cup eight times previously (in [[1930 FA Cup final|1930]], [[1936 FA Cup final|1936]], [[1950 FA Cup final|1950]], [[1971 FA Cup final|1971]], [[1979 FA Cup final|1979]], [[1993 FA Cup final|1993]], [[1998 FA Cup final|1998]] and [[2002 FA Cup final|2002]]) and had been beaten in the final seven times, the most recent in [[2001 FA Cup final|2001]]. By comparison, Southampton made their fourth appearance in a FA Cup final. Their previous best was winning the cup in [[1976 FA Cup final|1976]], by beating opponents Manchester United.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2404192/Saints-marching-on-the-giants.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Paul |last=Hayward |location=London |date=17 May 2003 |access-date=18 March 2012 |title=Saints marching on the giants}}</ref>

Both clubs received an allocation of approximately 25,000 tickets, with the remaining 25,000 being sent out to other clubs.<ref name="ticks">{{cite news |title=Touts selling tickets at 10 times value |page=7 |newspaper=South Wales Echo |location=Cardiff |date=7 May 2003}}</ref> 17,500 of those tickets were available to Southampton season ticket holders.<ref name="tisk"/> Seat prices for the final exceeded £80, with the cheapest tickets available at £25.<ref name="tisk"/> Southampton was given the South Stand, which was the larger end of the stadium, whereas Arsenal was situated at the opposite end.<ref name="tisk">{{cite news |title=25,000 tickets for Saints' Cardiff army |first=Adam |last=Leitch |newspaper=Daily Echo |location=Southampton |date=26 April 2003}}</ref> Although Southampton supporters were disappointed at the allocation share, chairman [[Rupert Lowe]] refused to criticise the FA's decision, by saying: "The reality is that too many people want to go and there are never enough tickets."<ref>{{cite news |title=Lowe blasts ticket fiasco |first=Harry |last=Pratt |page=71 |newspaper=Daily Star |location=London |date=7 May 2003}}</ref> In the lead up to the final, the ''[[South Wales Echo]]'' reported that many tickets were being sold on the black market, for "20 times" the face-value price.<ref name="ticks"/>

Nine days before the final, the two clubs faced each other in a league match at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]] (Arsenal's former stadium). With Arsenal unable to retain the title, having lost to [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]], manager [[Arsène Wenger]] rested several players, as did Southampton manager [[Gordon Strachan]], whose team started without six of their first-choice eleven.<ref name="highb">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/08/match.sport1 |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Jon |last=Brodkin |location=London |date=8 May 2003 |access-date=18 March 2012 |title=Arsenal star in Cup dress rehearsal}}</ref> Winger [[Jermaine Pennant]] on his league debut scored a hat-trick, as did Pires, in a 6–1 win.<ref name="highb"/> Strachan believed the result had little bearing on their chances of winning the cup, noting: "There is little pressure on Southampton to lift the trophy. We were not expected to reach the final and have already clinched a place in the UEFA Cup."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/11/sport.facup |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Gordan |last=Strachan |location=London |date=11 May 2003 |access-date=18 March 2012 |title=Price of victory may be lack of spectacle}}</ref>

The traditional Cup Final hymn, "[[Abide with Me]]" was sung by [[Tony Henry (singer)|Tony Henry]], an opera singer from South London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Opera singer to kick off the FA Cup Final |page=26 |newspaper=South Wales Echo |location=Cardiff |date=15 May 2003}}</ref> [[Bobby Robson|Sir Bobby Robson]] was invited as the FA's chief guest for the final and performed several duties ordinarily reserved for royalty, such as presenting the trophy to the winning captain. Heavy rain on Friday night and forecasted showers in Cardiff meant the final would be the first to be played indoors; the stadium closed its retractable roof and floodlights were used to light up the ground.<ref>{{cite news |title=FA Cup final: Day roof fell in on the Saints |page=6 |newspaper=The People |first=Frank |last=Wiechula |location=London |date=18 May 2003}}</ref>

==Match==
===Team selection===
Vieira was ruled out of the match because of a knee injury during the FA Cup semi-final match against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=agencies|first=Staff and|date=2003-04-14|title=Vieira fit for United showdown|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/apr/14/newsstory.sport3|access-date=2021-04-12|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> so Wenger named [[David Seaman]] as Arsenal's captain for the match. In a match widely anticipated as his final for the club.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/16/newsstory.sport1 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 May 2003 |access-date=12 March 2012 |first=Jon |last=Brodkin |title=Able Seaman is captain for final}}</ref> With Campbell suspended and Cygan absent due to a thigh strain,<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger left with defence worries |first=Steve |last=Stammers |page=63 |newspaper=Evening Standard |location=London |date=13 May 2003}}</ref> Wenger picked [[Oleh Luzhnyi]] to pair up with [[Martin Keown]], who was rested the previous Sunday away against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. For Southampton, the major absentee was their striker [[Marian Pahars]], who underwent a third operation to overcome a troubling knee injury.<ref>{{cite news |title=FA Cup countdown: Arsenal v Southampton |first=Lee |last=West |page=68 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=16 May 2003}}</ref> Defender [[Chris Baird]] made his second competitive start for the club and [[Chris Marsden]] captained Southampton, given [[Jason Dodd]]'s absence with an injury. Although both teams set up in a [[Formation (association football)#4.E2.80.934.E2.80.932|4–4–2 formation]], Bergkamp was positioned as a [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|deep-lying forward]] behind Henry.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arsenal counter friendly fire |first=Henry |last=Winter |page=B2 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=19 May 2003}}</ref>

===Report===
[[File:Robert_Pires1.JPG|thumb|left|190px|[[Robert Pires]] scored the only goal of the final]]

Arsenal created their first chance inside 24 seconds of the match, when Ljungberg put Henry clear down the right-hand side.<ref name=repo>{{cite news|title=Arsenal leads Southampton 1–0 at half time of FA Cup final |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-73980144.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611075037/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-73980144.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2014 |work=AP Worldstream |publisher=Associated Press |date=17 May 2003 |access-date=1 March 2013 |location=Cardiff}} {{subscription required}}</ref> The striker used his pace to get the better of Lundekvam, only to have his shot blocked by Southampton goalkeeper [[Antti Niemi (footballer)|Antti Niemi]].<ref name=repo/> Bergkamp's goal effort in the eighth minute was cleared off the line by full back [[Chris Baird]], after Niemi fumbled Henry's initial shot.<ref name=repo/> Southampton fashioned their first opportunity in the 15th minute through a high cross; in spite of unsettling the Arsenal defence, the unmarked Svensson volleyed over the bar.<ref name=repo/> Baird moments after won the ball in midfield and curled a shot that left Seaman "scrambling across his goal to save". Seven minutes before the break, Arsenal went into the lead. Henry, receiving the ball from Parlour, slipped it into Bergkamp down the right. He in turn fed the ball to Ljungberg, whose shot was blocked. The ball rebounded in the direction of Pires, who took one touch to set himself and another to fire into the goal at the near post, despite Niemi getting a hand to the ball.<ref name=repo/> Arsenal missed further chances to extend their lead when a cross from the right by Henry was shot over the bar by Pires and from the same area, Bergkamp's "cross-cum-shot" was missed by Ljungberg.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/18/match.facup |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=18 May 2003 |access-date=1 March 2013 |first=Paul |last=Wilson |title=Pires aim is true for muted Gunners}}</ref>

After the break, Southampton applied pressure and a poor clearance by Seaman invited a chance for [[Paul Telfer (footballer)|Paul Telfer]] to shoot the ball from "35 yards out"; his pass found Ormerod, but was eventually intercepted by Luzhnyi.<ref name=das>{{Cite news |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/north-east-sport/football/latest-football-news/2003/05/17/arsenal-1-southampton-0-84229-12973208/ |newspaper=Evening Gazette |location=Middlesbrough |date=17 May 2003 |access-date=1 March 2013 |title=Arsenal 1, Southampton 0 }}</ref> Minutes after, Beattie failed to take advantage from Oakley's cross, as the ball drifted wide.<ref name=das/> Arsenal regained possession and in the 52nd minute went close to doubling their lead.<ref name=repod>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/17/minutebyminute.sport |work=The Guardian|date=17 May 2003 |access-date=1 March 2013 |first=John |last=MacLeary |title=Arsenal v Southampton: minute-by-minute}}</ref> In Southampton's penalty box, Bergkamp turned and beat Ormerod before curling a shot which Niemi palmed off; it fell to the feet of Ljungberg, who shot the ball into the side-netting.<ref name=repod/> Telfer misguided his header from a Southampton corner, before Niemi denied Henry again. In the 65th minute, Niemi injured himself, in an attempt to clear the ball and was replaced by substitute [[Paul Jones (footballer, born 1967)|Paul Jones]].<ref name=repod/> Both clubs made substitutions in the final third of the game, with Wiltord coming on for Bergkamp and Tessem replacing Svensson.<ref name=repod/> Ormerod's goal-bound effort was saved by Seaman with 10 minutes remaining of the match. In the fourth minute of injury time, Southampton earned themselves a corner.<ref name=repod/> Beattie's on-target header was cleared off the line by [[Ashley Cole]] and out for another corner, which Pires kicked out in the final action of the game.<ref name=repod/>

===Details===
{{footballbox
|date=17 May 2003
|time=15:00 [[Western European Summer Time|BST]]
|team1=[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|score=1–0
|report=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/3025589.stm Report]
|team2=[[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
|goals1=[[Robert Pires|Pires]] {{goal|38}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[Millennium Stadium]], Cardiff
|attendance=73,726
|referee=[[Graham Barber]] ([[Hertfordshire County Football Association|Hertfordshire]]) }}

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 | leftarm    = FFFFFF
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 | rightarm   = FFFFFF
 | shorts     = FFFFFF
 | socks      = FFFFFF
 | title      = Arsenal
}}
|{{Football kit
 | pattern_la =_southampton0203a
 | pattern_b  =_southampton0203a 
 | pattern_ra =_southampton0203a
 | pattern_sh =_southampton0203a
 | pattern_s  =_southampton0203a
 | leftarm    = FFF000
 | body       = FFF000
 | rightarm   = FFF000
 | shorts     = 0000FF
 | socks      = FFF000
 | title      = Southampton
}}
|}

{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|colspan="4"|
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|  
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[David Seaman]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
|-
|RB ||'''12'''||{{fbaicon|CMR}} [[Lauren (Cameroonian footballer)|Lauren]]
|-
|CB ||'''5''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Martin Keown]] || {{yel|30}}
|-
|CB ||'''22'''||{{fbaicon|UKR}} [[Oleh Luzhnyi]]
|-
|LB ||'''3''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Ashley Cole]]
|-
|RM ||'''7''' ||{{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Robert Pires]]
|-
|CM ||'''15'''||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Ray Parlour]]
|-
|CM ||'''19'''||{{fbaicon|BRA}} [[Gilberto Silva]]
|-
|LM ||'''8''' ||{{fbaicon|SWE}} [[Freddie Ljungberg]]
|-
|SS ||'''10'''||{{fbaicon|NED}} [[Dennis Bergkamp]] || || {{suboff|77}}
|-
|CF ||'''14'''||{{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Thierry Henry]] || {{yel|66}}
|-
|colspan=4|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
|GK ||'''13'''||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Stuart Taylor (footballer, born 1980)|Stuart Taylor]]
|-
|DF ||'''28'''||{{fbaicon|CIV}} [[Kolo Touré]]
|-
|MF ||'''16'''||{{fbaicon|NED}} [[Giovanni van Bronckhorst]]
|-
|FW ||'''11'''||{{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Sylvain Wiltord]] || || {{subon|77}}
|-
|FW ||'''25'''||{{fbaicon|NGA}} [[Nwankwo Kanu]]
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Arsène Wenger]]
|}
|valign="top"|[[File:Arsenal vs Southampton 2003-05-17.svg|300px]]
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"
|colspan="4"|
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"|  
|-
|GK ||'''14'''||{{fbaicon|FIN}} [[Antti Niemi (footballer)|Antti Niemi]] || || {{suboff|66}}
|-
|RB ||'''32'''||{{fbaicon|NIR}} [[Chris Baird]] || || {{suboff|86}}
|-
|CB ||'''5''' ||{{fbaicon|NOR}} [[Claus Lundekvam]]
|-
|CB ||'''11'''||{{fbaicon|SWE}} [[Michael Svensson]] || {{yel|90}}
|-
|LB ||'''3''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Wayne Bridge]]
|-
|RM ||'''33'''||{{fbaicon|SCO}} [[Paul Telfer (footballer)|Paul Telfer]] || {{yel|60}}
|-
|CM ||'''8''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Matthew Oakley]]
|-
|CM ||'''12'''||{{fbaicon|SWE}} [[Anders Svensson (footballer, born 1976)|Anders Svensson]] || || {{suboff|75}}
|-
|LM ||'''4''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Chris Marsden]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]]) || {{yel|77}}
|-
|CF ||'''36'''||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Brett Ormerod]]
|-
|CF ||'''9''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] || {{yel|31}}
|-
|colspan=4|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
|GK ||'''1''' ||{{fbaicon|WAL}} [[Paul Jones (footballer, born 1967)|Paul Jones]] || || {{subon|66}}
|-
|DF ||'''6''' ||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Paul Williams (footballer, born 1971)|Paul Williams]]
|-
|DF ||'''19'''||{{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Danny Higginbotham]]
|-
|MF ||'''29'''||{{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Fabrice Fernandes]] || || {{subon|86}}
|-
|FW ||'''21'''||{{fbaicon|NOR}} [[Jo Tessem]] || || {{subon|75}}
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{fbaicon|SCO}} [[Gordon Strachan]]
|}
|}
{| width=82% style="font-size: 90%"
| width=50% valign=top|
'''Man of the match'''
*[[Thierry Henry]] (Arsenal)<ref>{{cite news |first=John |last=May |title=Henry's debt to Bergkamp |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3037689.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2003 |access-date=23 April 2009 }}</ref>

'''Match officials'''
*Assistant referees: 
**Nigel Miller ([[Durham County Football Association|County Durham]])
**[[Keith Stroud]] ([[Hampshire Football Association|Hampshire]])
*Fourth official: [[Mike Dean (referee)|Mike Dean]] ([[Cheshire County Football Association|Cheshire]])
| width=50% valign=top|
'''Match rules'''
*90 minutes.
*30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
*Penalty shootout if scores still level.
*Five named substitutes.
*Maximum of three substitutions.
|}

===Statistics===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" |Statistic<ref>{{cite news |last=Lipton |first=Martin |title=1–0 to the Arsenal ... At last ; Arsenal 1 Soton 0 |date=19 May 2003 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FOOTBALL%3a+1-0+TO+THE+ARSENAL+..+AT+LAST%3b+Arsenal+1+Soton+0%3b+Wenger%3a...-a0101933806 |access-date=23 February 2013 }}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:70px"| Arsenal
! scope="col" style="width:70px;"| Southampton
|-
!scope=row|Goals scored
| 1
| 0
|-
!scope=row|Possession
| 59%
| 41%
|-
!scope=row|Shots on target
| 7
| 4
|-
!scope=row|Shots off target
| 5
| 10
|-
!scope=row|Corner kicks
| 4
| 8
|-
!scope=row|Fouls
| 10
| 18
|-
!scope=row|Offsides
| 3
| 3
|-
!scope=row|Yellow cards
| 2
| 4
|-
!scope=row|Red cards
| 0
| 0
|}

==Post-match==
In retaining the cup, Arsenal became the first team to do so since Tottenham Hotspur in 1982. Wenger commented after the game that his team "got the trophy we wanted" while Strachan was in admiration of Southampton's performance: "I'm very proud of the way they competed. I couldn't have asked for any more."<ref name=Post>{{cite news|title=Keown hails 'best ever' win|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3036631.stm|access-date=16 March 2012|publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2003}}</ref> Keown said the FA Cup win was "the best ever" and Seaman felt the disappointment of losing out to Manchester United in the league spurred the team on.<ref name=Post /> Football pundits [[Alan Hansen]], [[Peter Schmeichel]] and [[Mark Hughes]] unanimously agreed that Arsenal deserved to win the match.<ref>{{cite news|title=Arsenal were worthy winners|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3036729.stm|access-date=16 March 2012|publisher=BBC Sport  |date=17 May 2003}}</ref>

Arsenal's victory set up a [[FA Community Shield|Community Shield]] match against Manchester United, the winners of the 2002–03 Premier League. The FA Cup winners are awarded qualification into the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], but because Arsenal qualified for the UEFA Champions League via their league position, the UEFA Cup place was passed to Southampton, the runners-up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/content/premierleague/en-gb/fans/faqs/who-qualifies-to-play-in-europe.html|title=Who qualifies to play in Europe?|work=Premier League|access-date=4 January 2013|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517152145/http://www.premierleague.com/content/premierleague/en-gb/fans/faqs/who-qualifies-to-play-in-europe.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The match was broadcast live in the United Kingdom by both the [[BBC]] and [[Sky Sports]], with [[BBC One]] providing the free-to-air coverage and Sky Sports 1 being the pay-TV alternative.<ref>{{cite news |title=FA Cup final: Arsenal v Southampton |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=17 May 2003 |page=B3 }}</ref> BBC One held the majority of the viewership, with a peak audience of 9.6 million viewers (55.7% viewing share) watching at 16:50pm and the match averaged at 8.3 million (55%) – the highest audience for a FA Cup final in four years.<ref name=ratings>{{cite news|title=Ratings – FA Cup's big gunners shoot to win on BBC1 |url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/ratings-fa-cups-big-gunners-shoot-to-win-on-bbc1/1118331.article |access-date=4 January 2013 |work=[[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]] |location=London |date=23 May 2003}}</ref> Coverage of the final began on the channel at 12:10pm and averaged 5.3 million (44.4%).<ref name=ratings/> The [[Match of the Day]] coverage concluded at different times dependent on station, with the broadcast in Scotland ending 10 minutes before the main broadcast finished.

==See also==
*[[2003 Football League Cup Final]]
*[[2003 FA Trophy Final]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.saintsforever.com/matchcupfinal.html Saints fans view] at SaintsForever.com

{{FA Cup Finals}}
{{2002–03 in English football}}
{{Arsenal F.C. matches}}
{{Southampton F.C. matches}}

[[Category:2002–03 FA Cup|Final]]
[[Category:FA Cup finals]]
[[Category:2002–03 in Welsh football|FA Cup Final]]
[[Category:Arsenal F.C. matches|FA Cup Final 2003]]
[[Category:Southampton F.C. matches|FA Cup Final 2003]]
[[Category:2000s in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Cardiff]]
[[Category:May 2003 sports events in the United Kingdom|FA Cup Final]]
[[Category:Association football matches in Wales]]