Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
The FA Cup, Semi-Final
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
16 April 2005, 12.15pm



Arsene Wenger says his Arsenal team are determined to win The FA Cup and end their season on a real high.

Arsenal kept the door to the Premiership title ajar at the weekend by winning at Middlesbrough as Chelsea were held by Birmingham.

But the Gunners know their best chance of silverware is to beat Blackburn in The FA Cup Semi-Finals on Saturday - and then win The Final.

Wenger said "The fact that we have been in every Semi-Final for the last five years shows that The FA Cup means a lot to us.

"It is the competition that is in front of us now because the Championship is over, or at least nearly over, and the European Cup is behind us.

"So The FA Cup is the one trophy that can keep our season alive and add some excitement. It is always the last game of the season and you always try and go for something for as long as you can throughout the season.

"Every season people ask me the same question about whether I care about The FA Cup and every season I tell the players 'come on' we can win it."

If Arsenal are to achieve their FA Cup dream this year then they need to beat a revitalised Blackburn this weekend. And it won't be easy.

Wenger said: "Blackburn are a tough team, but that is a credit to them and we don't want to face a team that is soft. They are tough, committed and very resilient.

"They defended well when we played them in the Championship, but we will managed to win 1-0. They have their way and we have our way and I feel that the pace of our passing and the runs in behind them will be very important in Cardiff."

Arsenal hope to have England defender Sol Campbell back from injury for the big game but much will depend on how he comes through training this week.