The 2003 FA Cup Final, the 122nd final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest domestic football cup competition. 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 Millennium Stadium, due to the ongoing reconstruction of Wembley Stadium, the final's usual venue. It was also the first FA Cup Final to be played indoors, with the Millennium Stadium roof closed because of bad weather. The clubs contesting the final were Arsenal, the holders of the competition and Southampton. This was Arsenal's 17th appearance in a final and Southampton's fourth.
As Premier League clubs, both entered the FA Cup in the third round.
Arsenal had won the FA Cup on eight previous occasions (1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, and 2002). Three of these wins had yielded a League / FA Cup "double" (1971, 1998, and 2002), and one win yielded an FA Cup/League Cup "double" (1993). Southampton had won the FA Cup on one previous occasion (1976), and reached the final in 1900 and 1902. The 2002–03 season saw Arsenal finish second and Southampton eighth in the Premier League.
The two Premiership matches played between the clubs that season resulted in a home win each time. Southampton had beaten Arsenal 3–2 at St. Mary's Stadium on 23 November, with James Beattie (2) and Agustin Delgado scoring for the home side. On 7 May, Arsenal won 6–1, with Jermaine Pennant and Robert Pirès both scoring hat-tricks, although both teams fielded weakened sides for this match.
Goalkeeper David Seaman captained Arsenal in the absence of the injured Patrick Vieira. It was to be his last appearance for the club. In defence for Southampton, Chris Baird made only his second competitive start, having made his debut in March. Chris Marsden captained Southampton in the absence of the injured club captain, Jason Dodd. It was the first FA Cup Final in which a goalkeeper came on as a substitute – Paul Jones replacing the injured Antti Niemi.
Graham Barber from Tring, Hertfordshire was the referee, with Nigel Miller and Keith Stroud as his assistants, and Mike Dean as the fourth official.
Arsenal had finished second in the Premier League that season, but had led the table by eight points as recently as 2 March and a loss of form during the final weeks of the season had ended their hopes of a unique fourth double as well as the chance of becoming the first club to win the double in successive seasons.
Read more about 2003 FA Cup Final: Pre-match, Post-match
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