2002 FA Cup Final remembered.

This Saturday sees a repeat of the 2017 FA Cup Final, but let us not forget that in 2002 the same two teams faced off in the Millennium Stadium for the FA Cup Final.

At the time Arsenal were the only team who could come close to the dominant Manchester United. Chelsea were regular top 6 finishers, but struggled to put in a real title challenge.

The FA Cup final actually took place before the conclusion of the league season, and Arsenal faced Manchester United in some what of a title decider just 4 days later. Would focus come off the final?

It was a multi-national affair, with Arsene Wenger and Claudio Raineiri managing the sides and 10 different nationalities represented on the pitch. However there was still room 9 Englishmen to get on the pitch (6 for Arsenal, 3 for Chelsea).

Tony Adams had barely played all season, but returned to fitness in time to captain Arsenal. David Seaman started despite Richard Wright playing in the previous rounds. The big miss was Robert Pires, the player of the season, who got injured in the Quarter Finals. Sylvain Wiltord got a start in his abscene. Ray Parlour partnered Patrick Vieira in midfield, and Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp were up front.

For Chelsea, John Terry only made the bench after illness. Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen started up front, with Zola on the bench. Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit partnered Frank Lampard in midfield.

The first half was pretty cagey and non-eventful. A couple of Chelsea half chances were easily fielded by Seaman, while Bergkamp and Lauren had headed chances that neither hit the target with.

Arsenal started the better in the second half, but with Terry replacing Babayaro early on, Chelsea began to take control. Seaman made a couple of good saves. Ranieri, maybe feeling the game was there to be won, threw Zola on in place of Hasslebaink. Within 2 minutes Chelsea were behind.

Ray Parlour picked the ball up in the centre circle, but found himself the most advanced player faced by a blue wall. As Wiltord and Kanu made runs past him, a gap opened. Parlour got the ball on his right foot, and curled a shot just out of the reach of Cudicini. It nestled into the top corner and Arsenal led. It was a goal that was preceded by the now infamous line "It's only Ray Parlour" as confidently said by Chelsea fan Tim Lovejoy.

Bergkamp was replaced by Edu, as Wenger tightened up his team. But it was Arsenal who got the next chance, as Ashley Cole broke free, and his miscontrol resulted in Henry getting a shot on target.

Then, after 80 minutes, Ljungberg picked the ball up in his own half. Henry made a trademark run to the left, taking Desailly with him. Ljungberg saw space behind Terry and ran at the defender. Terry tried to out muscle Ljungberg but found himself on his backside. Ljungberg took the shot on at the edge of the box, and curled it into the same spot Parlour had hit 10 minutes before. Arsenal were 2 up.

The second goal killed Chelseas hopes and the remainder of the game was pretty uneventful.

Arsenal had won the FA Cup 12 months after being robbed of it by an unknown rule that said Liverpool could play 2 'keepers.


On the Wednesday, thanks to a Sylvain Wiltord goal, Arsenal completed the double at Old Trafford. What a time it was to be alive.