Arsenal lifts FA Cup

London:

Robert Pires scored the only goal of the 122nd FA Cup final as defending champion Arsenal beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday to become the first team in 21 years to win the famous trophy two seasons in a row. The Frenchman struck seven minutes before half time as injury-hit Arsenal, who lost its Premier League title to Manchester United, gained the consolation of winning football's oldest cup competition for the ninth time in its record 16th final. Veteran England goalkeeper David Seaman, captain of the team in the absence of injured Patrick Vieira, 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, Henry going close at least three times and Saints defenders twice clearing off the line. 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. (AP)