Pires gives Gunners FA Cup

CARDIFF: Robert Pires’ first half strike made sure Arsenal became the first football team in 21 years to win back to back FA Cups as the Gunners beat Southampton 1-0 yesterday to win their ninth title in a record 16th appearance. Yet it still can’t make up for losing the league title to Manchester United. Despite the loss of several big names such as Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell, Arsene Wenger’s men created enough chances to have won by three or more goals before a shaky last few minutes.

Veteran England goalkeeper David Seaman, captain in Vieira’s absence, ensured Arsenal’s victory when he pushed a shot from Brett Ormerod over the top seven minutes from the end and Ashley Cole cleared a header from James Beattie off the line in the fifth minute of injury time. But Arsenal should have been three goals ahead by then. Thierry Henry went close at least three times and Saints defenders twice cleared off the line as the Gunners sliced through the Southampton midfield with typical panache. If only the Gunners could have shown that form in the last few months of the league campaign as Manchester United swept past them with a run of 15 wins in 18 matches.

“The team was under pressure today because we were scared to finish without a trophy,” Wenger said. “The last few weeks have been difficult I suppose. We got the trophy we wanted today. Henry, who signed a new three-year extension to his Arsenal contract on the eve of the final, said the victory partly made up for losing the league title. Southampton manager Gordon Strachan said his team had chances to have beaten Arsenal. The final was the first in the competition’s long history to be played “indoors,” officials deciding to close the Millennium Stadium roof because of heavy rain.