The Hindu : Southampton's desire could tip FA Cup balance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 17, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Southampton's desire could tip FA Cup balance

LONDON May 16 . The FA Cup final has been restored to its traditional slot as the final game of the English domestic season but only one of tomorrow's Cardiff combatants regards it as the pinnacle of the year.

Southampton, with the 1976 FA Cup their only major honour, are desperate for some tangible success to follow their impressive eighth-place league finish under Gordon Strachan.

On the day Arsenal lost the league, Arsene Wenger said retaining the FA Cup would be no consolation for Arsenal's failure in the premier and Champions Leagues.

The Frenchman, who has never managed to embrace his adopted home's love of the competition, could be excused for wondering what all the fuss is about when he leads his team out for their fourth final in his seven years at Highbury, his third in succession and a record 16th overall.

If Wenger had been around 27 years ago when then-second division Southampton produced one the competition's greatest shocks by beating heavily-fancied Manchester United 1-0 in the final, he might have a little more feel for its romance.

Southampton fans, dreaming of a repetition, will pour into Cardiff to revel in every aspect of the final where even defeat assures them of a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Arsenal thrashed Southampton 6-1 in the league last week but it was a result that neither club has attached much importance to as both rested several players.

But while Strachan can return to a virtually full-strength side, Wenger has to patch together his team after the late season injuries and suspension that contributed to their implosion in the league.

The most important absentee is skipper Patrick Vieira, not only for his midfielder dominance but also for the shield he provides for the increasingly shaky back line.

With England centre-back Sol Campbell suspended, Pascal Cygan injured and Oleg Luzhny and Lauren both doubts, Arsenal might have to rely on Igor Stepanovs alongside Martin Keown to try to deal with the considerable aerial threat of James Beattie.

And with several front line players tired and off-colour they will be looking to footballer-of-the-year Thierry Henry for goals.

David Seaman will captain the side in his fifth final appearance and possibly his last for the club. At 39 and 238 days he will be the oldest goalkeeper and the third-oldest player to appear in the final.

Probable teams: Arsenal: 1-David Seaman (captain); 12-Lauren, 5-Martin Keown, 22-Oleg Luzhny, 3-Ashley Cole; 7-Robert Pires, 19-Gilberto, 15-Ray Parlour, 8-Freddie Ljungberg; 11-Sylvain Wiltord, 14-Thierry Henry.

Southampton: 14-Antti Niemi; 33-Paul Telfer, 5-Claus Lundekvam, 11-Michael Svensson, 3-Wayne Bridge; 29-Fabrice Fernandes, 12-Anders Svensson, 8-Matt Oakley, 4-Chris Marsden (captain); 9-James Beattie, 36-Brett Ormerod.

Referee: Graham Barber. — Reuters

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