One down, one to go

Arsenal seeks Double delight at Old Trafford

CARDIFF (Reuters) -- Buoyed by a hard-fought FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, Arsenal's fighting spirit faces an even tougher test when they try to complete the Double against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Arsenal's 2-0 win on Saturday owed little to the fluent passing football which took them to Cardiff and propelled Arsene Wenger's side into a five-point lead at the top of the premier league.

Instead, it took two moments of great individual skill from Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg, plus a large dollop of aggressive defending to halt the charge from their London rivals.

Frequently outsmarted in a densely populated midfield and unable to find their usual precision passing, Arsenal were often second best to a team they had not lost to in the Cup since 1947.

Up front, Thierry Henry failed to add to his 30-goal haul this season for the fifth match in succession, while the creative partnership between Ljungberg and Dennis Bergkamp had none of its usual sparkle.

But what the performance lacked, the final scoreline more than made up for as Arsenal chase their second Double since 1998 and their third since 1971.

The psychological blow that defeat would have inflicted on Saturday could have left Arsenal heads spinning when they face United, needing only a point to wrest the crown from Alex Ferguson's side.

Arsenal have finished runners-up to United for the last three seasons and the opportunity to succeed them as England's top team in front of the champions' own fans is a tantalizing one.

"There could have been concern about the negative consequences of losing, that's why it was important to win today," Wenger said.

Positive points

United can still retain their title, and make history into the bargain, by taking six points from their last two games and hoping Arsenal fail to beat Everton at home next Saturday.

That fact clearly put a dampener on Arsenal's low-key celebrations after Saturday's triumph helped ease the pain of losing last year's final to Liverpool in the closing minutes.

"Usually you celebrate a cup final a lot, but we can't because we have to concentrate on the United game," said Ljungberg, whose has scored 17 goals this season and seven in as many matches.

Neither was Old Trafford far from the thoughts of Bergkamp, who set more store by Arsenal's league form this season than any desire for revenge after the 6-1 drubbing they suffered at Old Trafford last season.

"We're not looking back," he said. "I think it's important to see the kind of season we've had -- we haven't lost away from home and we want to keep that record going."

However, the Dutchman is certainly not underestimating the threat from a team who, after missing out on the Champions League final, have nothing but Arsenal in their sights.

"For them, it's their last home game and they'll want to show their fans what they can do and how they can finish," Bergkamp said.

For Arsenal, Wednesday will be like a second Cup final. Only this time, mistakes are not likely to go unpunished.

Wenger's rage set to fire Arsenal in title cauldron

Ray Parlour says Arsenal will be out to atone for probably their worst ever tongue-lashing from manager Arsene Wenger when the FA Cup winners face Manchester United on Wednesday.

Arsenal can complete a league and Cup double by taking at least a point from the reigning champions at Old Trafford -- the scene of a humiliating 6-1 drubbing in February of last season.

Parlour, who opened the scoring for Arsenal in Saturday's 2-0 Cup final victory over Chelsea, has clearly not forgotten the scathing response of his usually unflappable French manager.

"We were pretty poor that day and at halftime we got a good rollicking," Parlour told reporters in Cardiff.

"The lads expected it because we just weren't at the races.

"To go to Manchester, with the game live on the television, we just let ourselves down and all the fans who had travelled up.

"Hopefully, we'll go back this year and do a lot better. But Manchester United are a very good team and I'm sure they won't give up."

United still have a theoretical chance of retaining their title by winning their last two games and counting on Arsenal failing to beat Everton at Highbury in their final match of the season.

British bookmakers William Hill are confident that Arsenal will not slip up, however, and have installed the Gunners at 25-1 ON to secure the championship.

For Parlour, whose side are unbeaten away in the league this season and are on a roll of 10 consecutive league wins, the chance to beat United and wrest the premier league title from them in the same game is too good to miss.

Fans' day

"It would be fantastic," said the 29-year-old midfielder, who started his Arsenal career as a trainee in 1989.

"It's all down to us -- we know what we've got to do. And all our minds are on that...we'd love to do it in Manchester. The lads know we'll be up for it and full of confidence.

"If we can do it this year, win at Old Trafford, it would make the fans' day and obviously the players' as well and everybody's at the club."

Parlour showed little interest in the bait set last week by United manager Alex Ferguson, who said in the wake of his side's Champions League semifinal exit to Bayer Leverkusen that they were still the best team in England.

"Managers have their little say, but that doesn't affect the players," Parlour said.

"If we can win the double, then obviously we are the best team this year. But we go out to try and win for ourselves -- not to try and prove someone wrong."

Parlour, though rarely in the Arsenal spotlight, is now on the verge of a personal milestone after having already helped the north London club to their 1998 double under Wenger.

"A second double, something that not many players have done, would be a great season for me," he said.

"Probably the last 19 games have been like cup finals, and that's how it was in 1998 when we won the double."

Vieira future still in balance after Arsenal triumph

Patrick Vieira insists Arsenal's FA Cup victory will have no direct bearing on his Highbury future.

The France midfielder helped the north London club to a 2-0 win over Chelsea in the final on Saturday amid continuing speculation that he could be playing his football elsewhere next season.

While Real Madrid covet Vieira's services highly, his compatriot and club mate Robert Pires has said that Vieira could be persuaded to stay if Arsenal clinch the league and FA Cup "double."

Like his opponents on the pitch, however, Vieira is keeping inquisitors at arm's length.

Asked if Saturday's Millennium Stadium triumph would influence his decision on his future, Vieira told reporters: "No, not at all.

"I don't want to think about that...It's not in my mind at all. I want to enjoy the victory."

Arsenal are in talks with the 25-year-old over a new deal and manager Arsene Wenger has said he is confident Vieira will resist the lure of the continent.

Vieira happy

Vieira himself said he was happy at Highbury and that the bond between his team mates had helped them overcome the disappointment of losing 2-1 to Liverpool in last year's FA cup final.

"I'm very happy [at Arsenal]... don't I look happy?" he said.

"There is a great spirit here which is nice to be part of... We all want success and the players have worked hard for it.

"Last year was disappointing...We know how it feels to lose and we have come a long way since then."

Arsenal will complete a joyous season if they can secure the point they need to secure the league title against Manchester United on Wednesday.

"We just want to win it as soon as we can," Vieira said.

The final in Cardiff saw Vieira come up against France team mate and former Arsenal player Emmanuel Petit, who impressed for Chelsea before finishing up on the losing side.

Vieira and Petit will link up in France's midfield when the world champions defend their crown at this year's World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.

Petit was disconsolate at the final whistle, and Vieira said: "I feel for him... We know what it is like to lose in a final.

"Manu and I are good friends and I spoke to him after the game. He will be fine... He is a great player."

 

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