Oliver McIntosh (left), managing director of SportsMax, makes a presentation of two airline tickets to Dean Dunston, winner of the 'Guess the Player' competition, while Terry-Anne Wilson of The Gleaner's Corporate Affairs department looks. Dunston's total prize was an all expenses paid trip to tomorrow's FA Cup final. The presentation was made at the offices of SportsMax on Trinidad Terrace last Friday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
HEAD TO HEAD
DENNIS BERGKAMP V. ROY CARROLL
Arsenal's flying Dutchman could be making his farewell appearance for the Gunners, so he will be keen to go out in style.
Bergkamp has had a wonderful season, the highlight being his marvellous performance in the 7-0 thrashing of Everton recently.
United have had problems in goal; Tim Howard started the season but was dropped after his howlers in the 2-2 Champions League drew with Lyon.
Roy Carroll came in and held the jersey until after the Champions League exit against AC Milan, but he was reinstated four games ago and is favourite to start. But Bergkamp will fancy his chances against the Northern Irishman.
JENS LEHMANN V. RUUD VAN NISTELROOY
By his own high standards, Ruud Van Nistelrooy has had a disappointing season with only six goals in the Premiership, including two in his last two
outings. His total of 16 includes a brace in the FA Cup semi-final win over Newcastle United.
But he wasn't helped by an Achilles and calf injury that kept him out from November 27 to February 23.
United will view Lehmann as erratic and vulnerable to crosses, and the German was dropped earlier in the season when Manuel Almunia was given a month's run in the winter. Lehman, though, has conceded only four goals in his last 13 appearances.
PATRICK VIEIRA V. ROY KEANE
There is little love between the two captains; when United visited Highbury earlier this season, the pair had to be separated by referee Graham Poll in the tunnel as they prepared to take to the pitch.
Two combatitive midfielders will hold little back when they square up to each other, and this match up could determine whether the Cup returns to Old Trafford or is carried back to London.
Keane was rested last Sunday, at Southampton, but is certain to return. Vieira, who rejected the chance to move to Real Madrid last summer, could be the target for another approach so he will be determined to win the Cup.
SOL CAMPBELL V. WAYNE ROONEY
These two have had varied seasons. Campbell missed the start of the season and was absent from the opening eight games with an Achilles injury, and an ankle injury in February kept him out for another 13 games.
In his absence, Philippe Senderos performed so well that when he was fit, Campbell had to settle for a place on the bench, but he is now back alongside Senderos and will relish the chance to shackle Rooney, whose first season at Old Trafford has been nothing short of sensational, with the teenager keen to finish on a high, to add to his 17 goals, including three in the FA Cup.
CESC FABREGAS V. CRISTIANO RONALDO
These two youngsters could light up the Millennium Stadium. Fabregas has only just turned 18 but he has made no fewer than 45 appearances, either from the start or on the bench.
Arsene Wenger is planning to build the Gunners's future around the young Frenchman, but at the Millennium Stadium, he comes face-to-face with another youngster.
Ronaldo, Portugal's brightest young talent, turned 20 only in February, and on his day can dazzle with his silky ball skills. Sir Alex Ferguson continues to use Ronaldo sparingly, and he was rested last Sunday at Southampton.
But he featured in the semi-final, scoring in United 4-1 win over Newcastle at the Millennium Stadium.
LAUREN V. RYAN GIGGS
Lauren missed last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Birmingham with blood poisoning, so Kolo Toure, normally a central defender, deputised at right back.
Lauren, though, should return and has to try and shackle Ryan Giggs, whose remarkable goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final replay in 1999 remains one of the greatest ever to be scored in the competition.
Giggs became only the third United player to reach 600 games for the club in the season and celebrated last week by signing a new contract. The Welshman has been troubled by a recurring hamstring problem, but on his day will fancy his chances of getting the better of Lauren.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal's plans have been hit by the injury to Thierry Henry, who has scored 30 goals in the League and Cup this season. An Achilles problem has ruled him out to Jose Antonio Reyes who is expected to replace the Frenchman, though Robin Van Persie could feature. Arsenal are without Gael Clichy (foot) while Freddie Ljungberg undergoes a test.
United are without Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has been out all season with a knee injury, while Gabriele Heinze is almost certainly out with a knee ligament problem. United also test Gary Neville.
THIS SEASON
The season started with Arsenal and United meeting at the Millennium Stadium in August. The teams have met four times already with United winning three.
The first meeting was the season's curtain raiser, the Community Shield with Arsenal winning 3-1. Gilberto Silva gave Arsenal the lead and after Alan Smith had equalised, Jose Antonio Reyes gave the Gunners the lead and then Mikael Silvestre scored an own goal.
But when Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford, in October, their remarkable unbeaten run came to an end when they were beaten for the first time in 50 Premiership outings when goals from Wayne Rooney and a Ruud Van Nistelrooy penalty provoked a rowdy ending with food allegedly thrown at Sir Alex Ferguson.
In December, the teams were drawn together in the Carling Cup at Old Trafford and United won 1-0 with a goal after 18.6 seconds the fastest ever goal at Old Trafford by United's David Bellion.
The fourth meeting also ended in a United win, in February, when they won 4-2 and also had Gabriele Heinze sent off. Arsenal's goals came from Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp, with United netting through Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Ryan Giggs and John O'Shea.
ROUTES TO THE FINAL
ARSENAL
Third round: Stoke City (h) Won 2-1.
Fourth round: Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) Won 2-0.
Fifth round: Sheffield United (h) D 1-1; replay (a) Drew 0-0 aet, Won 4-2 penalties.
Sixth round: Bolton Wanderers (a) Won 1-0.
Semi-final: Blackburn (Cardiff) Won 3-0.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Third round: Exeter City (h) Drew 0-0, replay (a) Won 2-0.
Fourth round: Middlesbrough (h) Won 3-0.
Fifth round: Everton (a) Won 2-0.
Sixth round: Southampton (a) Won 4-0.
Semi-final: Newcastle United (Cardiff) Won 4-1.
PREVIOUS FA CUP MEETINGS
1906: 4th round: United 2, Arsenal 3
1937: 4th round: Arsenal 5, United 0
1951: 5th round: United 1, Arsenal 0
1962: 4th round: United 1, Arsenal 0
1979: Final: Arsenal 3, United 2
1983: semi-final: Arsenal 1, United 2
1988: 5th round: Arsenal 2, United 1
1999 semi-final: Arsenal 0, United 0
1999 replay: Arsenal 1, United 2
2003 5th round: United 0, Arsenal 2
2004 semi-final: Arsenal 0, United 1
CUP FACTS
A record 661 clubs entered the 2004-2005 FA Cup competition.
There have been 781 games in this season's FA Cup competition.
There have been 2,519 goals.
The games so far have been watched by 2,091,406 spectators.
There have been 48 hat-tricks, including five four-goal hauls and three players scoring five.
The biggest home win was Hornchurch 9, Dulwich Hamlet 0 in the third qualifying round. The biggest away winners were both in the preliminary round Woodley Sports winning 9-0 at Willington and Barton Rovers beating Hoddesdon Town 10-1.
Arsenal and Manchester United share the record for the most FA Cup final appearances with both featuring in their 17th final.
This will be Sir Alex Ferguson's seventh FA Cup final; he has won an unprecedented five out of his previous six.
If United win, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs would become the first players in more than a century to collect a fifth FA Cup winners' medal. The last of three players to have collected five winners medals was Blackburn Rovers's Jimmy Forrest in 1891.
The winners will receive £1 million.
Arsenal will wear their first choice red shirts with white arms, and will take the North dressing room. United will wear their black second strip, and change in the South dressing room.
Arsenal's first three games in the competition this season were against teams from the Championship (old First Division). United had to overcome non league opposition, in Exeter City, but their remaining opponents were all from the Premiership.
Goals for United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy or Cristiano Ronaldo would see them join in the list of players to have scored in successive FA Cup finals. Nine players have all achieved the feat but only three of these were in the 20th century.
Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg scored in both the 2001 and 2002 finals, matching the achievements of Manchester City's Bobby Johnstone (1955 and 1956) and Bobby Smith (Tottenham, 1961 and 1962).
This is the last FA Cup final to be held in Cardiff. Next season, it returns to the new Wembley, which will be completed in time.
