4th May 2002: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
Arsenal returned for a second successive final but this time managed to leave Cardiff with the cup. In an evenly contested match, the breakthrough didn’t come until the final quarter when Ray Parlour picked the ball up just inside the Chelsea half, dribbling goalwards before curling a sweetly struck effort into the top corner past the despairing dive of Carlo Cudicini. Ljungberg added a second late-on to complete one half of an historic double for Arsene Wenger’s men.
17th May 2003: Arsenal 1-0 Southampton
Southampton made their first final appearance for 27 years but couldn’t stop Arsenal’s Millennium Stadium winning streak. The Saints put up a good battle until Robert Pires found the net just before the break to put the heavily-fancied favourites ahead. Despite the Saints’ efforts, Arsenal managed to retain the cup and leave victorious once again.
22nd May 2004: Manchester United 3-0 Millwall
Dennis Wise’s Millwall were the overwhelming underdogs as the Championship outfit came up against a hungry Manchester United side, still smarting from losing their Premiership crown that season. They acquitted themselves manfully against United’s international stars until Cristiano Ronaldo found himself unmarked in the box and headed the ball into the back of the net. The Reds took control in the second half with Van Nistelrooy scoring twice but the Lions still found time to make FA Cup history when substitute Curtis Weston became the youngest player to play in a final.
21st May 2005: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties)
Both teams came to the final looking to salvage their season after missing out on the Premiership title to Chelsea. This pressure was apparent in the opening stages as the game mainly took place in midfield, with Rio Ferdinand’s disallowed goal the closest either team coming to scoring in normal time. Jose Antonio Reyes was dismissed for a second bookable offence as the game went into extra-time before the two sides became the first to ever go to penalties in a final. Paul Scholes’s attempt blazed over the bar to leave Arsenal and skipper Patrick Vieira triumphant.
