The FA Cup

[Gast Seriöser Bub]

Dear Arsenal supporter,

I was proud of my players on Saturday. We lost against Manchester United

at Old Trafford in December but this time we produced an outstanding

performance to win 2-0 and reach the FA Cup sixth round.

We controlled the game from the first to the last minute, we were composed

on the ball, well organised and showed that we are technically a good

team. We just concentrated on playing well.

In our last game at Old Trafford we weren't good enough, but I told the

players before Saturday's game that it was a good opportunity to increase

our belief and confidence.

I think the result will do just that. The players are very proud, they

wanted to show their quality and that is what they did. I believe the

result is important for the future.

Of course, we had some luck in the first half, when Ryan Giggs missed a

chance to open the scoring.

I wasn't certain that he would score because I am an optimist. I thought

we still had a chance to get away with it. I

felt Ashley Cole was coming back and, secondly, the ball was on Giggs'

right foot.

Of course you should score from there, but missing this type of chance

happens to everyone. If the ball was on his left foot he would have scored

but maybe there was a little bounce or something.

If you are a striker you can miss this type of opportunity, and we know

all about that because we missed some good chances in the 2001 FA Cup

final.

Soon after Giggs' miss, Edu's free kick was deflected past Fabien Barthez

for the first goal. Edu deserved his goal because he was outstanding. He

and Patrick Vieira dominated the middle of the park and the whole midfield

played well.

We went in at half-time with a 1-0 lead, but even if United had taken the

lead I was confident that we could change the game again.

The strength of my squad was also evident on Saturday with Dennis Bergkamp

and Gilberto rested and Thierry Henry starting on the substitutes' bench.

I felt Thierry needed a breather. He was involved in a big part of the

last game against Newcastle and has played four games in 10 days.

But I was able to rest him because I have a big squad of players at an

amazingly high level. Francis Jeffers and Sylvain Wiltord are top strikers

and they proved that against United.

This week, we resume our Champions League campaign with a game against

Ajax at Highbury. Let's hope we can keep our fine form going.

Thanks for your support

Arsene Wenger - Arsenal Manager Mail

[Savio]

Mittwoch 26.02.2003:

Burnley - Fulham 3:0

1:0 Taylor 27'; 2:0 Moore 35'; 3:0 Diallo 52'