SAINTS' magical FA Cup run came to a heartbreaking end as they were defeated by a single Robert Pires goal at the Millennium Stadium today.
Having fought so bravely to get to the showpiece final, Saints put in a determined display but, in the end, Arsenal's class was the decisive factor.
The game, the first FA Cup final to be played with the roof closed, was a highly-entertaining football match in which both sides had their chances.
But Arsenal's more incisive and slick passing around the penalty area always made them more likely to run out winners.
Even so, they only managed one goal against a heroic Saints rearguard.
In the 38th minute, Thierry Henry found Dennis Bergkamp on the right side of the penalty area and he fed the ball to the feet of Freddie Ljungberg, whose blocked shot fell to Pires.
The Frenchman finished to give his side the famous trophy and deny Saints another place in history 27 years after they won the FA Cup for the first - and, so far, only time.
SEE TONIGHT'S PINK FOR A FULL MATCH REPORT AND MONDAY'S DAILY ECHO FOR A 32-PAGE CUP FINAL SPECIAL WITH REPORTS, ANALYSIS, PICTURES AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE PLAYERS AND FANS FROM TODAY'S GAME.
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