Gunners lead at half-time - report

Robert Pires fired Arsenal into a half-time lead in the FA Cup final but Southampton would have been relieved to have gone into the break only one goal down.

Holders Arsenal’s defensive worries were eased slightly when Martin Keown was deemed fit to play and took his place alongside Oleg Luzhny in the centre of the Gunners’ back four for today’s FA Cup final against Southampton at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Arsenal line-up, lacking an injured Patrick Vieira and suspended Sol Campbell, otherwise took on a familiar look with goalkeeper David Seaman captaining the team with Gilberto Silva and Ray Parlour the axis in central midfield.

Dennis Bergkamp was paired with star striker Thierry Henry up front.

Gordon Strachan took a gamble by picking rookie right-back Chris Baird, with only three Premiership starts under his belt, to counteract the threat of the mercurial Robert Pires.

Baird played in the Saints’ last two league matches, including that 6-1 hammering at Highbury, and his inclusion pushed Paul Telfer into a more advanced right-midfield berth with Chris Marsden recovered from a knee injury which kept him out of last Sunday’s game at Manchester City.

But there was heartbreak for goalkeeper Paul Jones, who played last weekend, as Strachan recalled first-choice Antti Niemi after he overcame a jarred knee.

The first under-cover FA Cup final kicked off in Cardiff with the omens making as worrying reading as the absentee list for Arsenal.

It was a record 16th FA Cup final appearance for the Gunners, who were targeting a ninth victory, but there was some hope for the underdogs from Southampton.

The last time Arsenal had appeared in three consecutive finals they lost the first to Ipswich 1-0 in 1978, beat Manchester United 3-2 the following year and were then beaten by Trevor Brooking’s header in 1980.

If Southampton managed to cave the Millennium Stadium roof in on Arsenal, then Arsene Wenger’s side would repeat the pattern having lost to Liverpool in 2001 then beaten Chelsea last season.

The big day may have dawned dull and turned to rain, but Saints’ prospects looked bright on their first appearance in a final since Bobby Stokes’ memorable goal beat Manchester United in 1976.

Henry had a golden opportunity to score the fastest ever FA Cup final goal with less the 30 seconds on the clock. The French striker burst onto a long lofted pass from Freddie Ljungberg and, ignoring Lundekvam's persistent shirt-tugging, found himself one-on-one with Niemi.

Had he scored, Henry would have been comfortably quicker than the 42 seconds it took Roberto di Matteo to score for Chelsea against Middlesbrough, but Niemi positioned himself well and saved with his legs.

Lundekvam must have been relieved – had Henry gone down it would have been an indisputable penalty and the Norwegian defender could have been sent off.

After seven minutes Niemi was in action again, but this time he spilled Henry’s snapshot and when Bergkamp picked up the pieces and fired in from a tight angle it was left to Baird to clear off the line.

Michael Svensson tried to relieve the pressure on Saints, winning a header from a corner but frustrated to see the ball drop into Seaman’s arms.

Henry was causing Southampton all sorts of problems and Bergkamp's glorious 30-yard pass set him running at the back four again. This time he was forced away from the goal by Baird, onto his left foot, and his shot lacked the power to trouble Niemi.

Saints continued to look most dangerous from set-pieces, and after a corner was cleared by the Gunners Paul Telfer saw his long-range strike sail way over the crossbar.

Michael Svensson stuck out a boot to meet a free-kick but again did not force Seaman into action, before Baird showed he was not overawed by the occasion, forcing the Arsenal goalkeeper into a scrambling save with a low curling effort from 25 yards.

Anders Svensson nearly opened up Arsenal after a weaving run but Ljungberg made an important blocking tackle to deflect his shot away from goal.

Baird halted Bergkamp’s progress illegally but it was a foul Strachan would have been happy to see his player concede as a second later the Dutchman would have put Pires clear.

In the 30th minute, Keown became the first player booked after a challenge so late on Brett Ormerod that both players were over the touchline when the foul took place.

The game, which had started fluidly, started to become scrappy. Beattie did not take long before following Keown into referee Graham Barber’s notebook, cautioned for a nasty challenge on Luzhny.

Seaman was forced to come racing out and head clear as Ormerod threatened to outpace Cole, then with 38 minutes Arsenal finally made a chance count.

The build-up to the goal involved no less than six Arsenal players as their one-touch passing opened up Saints. Lauren diverted a pass to Parlour on the right flank, he found Henry in space on the edge of the penalty area who in turn picked out Bergkamp’s run.

The Dutch striker passed inside to Ljungberg, whose shot was blocked, but the ball ran to Pires who hammered it low past Niemi.

It could have been 2-0 a minute later when Henry drifted past Lundekvam before producing a delightful cutback for Pires but Telfer did just enough to put the French winger off.

Bergkamp was next to threaten, drilling in a low shot from the left that beat Niemi but was stopped on the line by Anders Svensson.