History in sight

The FA Cup Semi-Final Arsenal v Manchester United 03 April 2004 Villa Park, 12.00 noon

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Third Round

Leeds United 1-4 Arsenal

Hosts Leeds United took an early lead as they started the game in an upbeat mood. Sol Campbell knocked an innocuous-looking backpass to Jens Lehmann. The German’s rushed clearance hit Mark Viduka and flew into the net.

Arsenal started to impose their fluent passing style on the match and eighteen minutes after going behind they drew level.

Striker Thierry Henry scored the goal when he connected with Freddie Ljungberg’s right-wing cross to volley past Paul Robinson after 26 minutes.

Seven minutes later Henry got free of his marker on the left and arrowed a low cross towards Edu, who slid in to steer the ball past the Leeds goalkeeper.

A two-goal cushion was ultimately supplied through substitute Robert Pires and there was just enough time for Kolo Touré to complete the scoring.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Cole, Keown, Campbell, Ljungberg (Toure, 81), Vieira, Edu (Parlour, 81), Gilberto, Kanu (Pires, 81), Henry

Fourth Round

Arsenal 4-1 Middlesbrough

Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp put the Gunners ahead after 19 minutes of their Fourth Round game after Ray Parlour did well to create some space.

However, Steve McClaren’s side took the goal in their stride and four minutes later equalised through Joseph Desire-Job.

Arsenal's inventive play was so superior to the visitors’ football that they deserved their second goal when it arrived in the 28th minute – Freddie Ljungberg tucking the ball home from close range.

Arsène Wenger’s side couldn't be shaken out of their rhythm and Ljungberg grabbed a second, his team’s third, in the 68th minute.

In the dying seconds, substitute David Bentley scored his first goal for the club when he sent a well-measured chip over ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Touré, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Parlour, Vieira (Clichy, 75), Edu, Pires, Bergkamp (Bentley, 84)

Fifth Round

Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea

The Fifth Round saw Arsenal drawn against Chelsea for the fourth consecutive season and, like last term, the two London sides met at Highbury.

Chelsea’s Romanian striker Adrian Mutu opened the scoring to give the visiting side the half-time lead. He turned Touré and shot from 20 yards past Lehmann into the far corner.

After the break, Arsenal started to play in a far more open and direct manner, and new signing José Antonio Reyes scored a second-half brace to once again knock Chelsea out of The FA Cup.

The 20-year-old Spaniard collected the ball 25 yards out. Running across the face of the Chelsea area, he only faced one half-hearted challenge from a Blues defence that seemed to be nailed to the edge of the box.

In the blink of an eye, he created enough space to unleash a fierce, arrow-straight, left-footed shot which flew high into Cudicini’s top right-hand corner, bringing Highbury to its feet.

Five minutes later Patrick Vieira threaded a beautifully weighted pass through for Reyes and the former Sevilla forward showed considerable composure to finish calmly past substitute goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Cole, Campbell, Toure, Lauren, Parlour (Edu 50), Vieira, Silva, Pires, Bergkamp, Reyes (Clichy 82)

Sixth Round

Portsmouth 1-5 Arsenal

In the Sixth Round the Gunners faced a potentially tricky tie away to the conquerors of Liverpool, Portsmouth.

However, in a breathtaking exhibition of devastating attacking football, The FA Cup holders waltzed into the semi-finals after blowing Portsmouth away, winning 5-1.

Arsène Wenger’s side put in an awesome performance of the highest calibre with every player contributing to a display full of imagination, speed, skill and intelligence.

Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg both scored first-half goals before Kolo Touré made it 3-0 just before half-time.

Henry and Ljungberg then each scored a second goal early in the second period, before substitute Teddy Sheringham scored a late consolation goal for the home side.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg (Bentley, 72), Vieira (Clichy, 72), Edu, Silva, Reyes, Henry (Kanu, 72)