Sports Talk: Arsenal for the Cup?

BBC Sport Online profiles FA Cup finalists Arsenal.

Richard Wright
Goalkeeper
Age:24

Wright has played every FA Cup tie for Arsenal, but after his �6m move from Ipswich Town, he still finds himself number two to David Seaman. He has also been superceded by David James in the England reckoning.

David Seaman
Goalkeeper
Age: 38

Seaman has confounded doubts about his form with some impressive and consistent displays for England and Arsenal. A stalwart of the Highbury side's back line, he signed from QPR for �1.3m in 1990.

Lee Dixon
Defender
Age: 38

Dixon did not play until January because of a knee injury but he has forced his back into Arsene Wenger's side in recent weeks. Dixon, who moved to Highbury in 1988, played in Arsenal's FA Cup victories of 1993 and 1998.

Sol Campbell
Defender
Age: 27

Unfit at the start of his Arsenal career, Campbell had a shaky start after his move from Spurs. But following a prodigious performance in the north London derby at White Hart Lane, Campbell has gone from strength to strength.

Campbell was injured in the semi-final

Tony Adams
Defender
Age: 35

Like Dixon plagued by injury this season, Adams only recently returned to the Arsenal side. Now in his 19th season at Highbury - he made his debut in 1983 - Mr Arsenal is the club's most successful captain, winning eight major honours.

Igor Stepanovs
Defender
Age: 26

Stepanovs was signed for �1m from Skonto Riga in September 2000. When he has played during this campaign, the Latvian has showed greater consistency after a nightmare display against Manchester United last season.

Martin Keown
Defender
Age: 35

Another one of Arsenal's ageing defenders who has come back from a nasty injury - Keown broke his leg in January, but was playing again by April. Renowned for his man-marking abilities and his no-nonense approach.

Ashley Cole
Defender
Age: 21

Cole missed six weeks with a knee injury recently, but after breaking into the team last season, he has enjoyed another productive campaign. Likely to be Sven-Goran Eriksson's first-choice left-back for England in Japan.

Oleg Luzhny
Defender
Age: 33

Arsenal's defensive injury crisis has allowed Luzhny to enjoy his most productive spell at Highbury since his �1.8m move to Highbury in May 1999. With his previous club Dynamo Kiev he won six consecutive league championship titles.

Gilles Grimandi
Midfielder/ Defender
Age: 30

Grimandi will leave Arsenal at the end of the season because he wants to play more first-team football. A �2.5m signing from Monaco in June 1997, Grimandi's versatility has seen him used in midfield and defence.

Ljunberg has scored 15 times this season

Ray Parlour
Midfielder
Age: 29

Now in his 11th season with Arsenal, Parlour has developed in both quality and stature under Arsene Wenger. Arsenal's coach says he should go to the World Cup, though Sven-Goran Eriksson would seem to disagree.

Edu
Midfielder
Age: 23

A �6m signing from Corinthians, the Brazilian's progress this season has been hampered by missing first few months with a broken foot. But Edu - very much in the mould of Emmanuel Petit - has started to show his mettle in recent months.

Patrick Vieira
Midfielder
Age: 25

Vieira was a member of the French sqaud which claimed the World Cup in 1998 and won Euro 2000. A �3.5m signing from AC Milan in August 1996, he is Arsenal's midfield dynamo. Despite endless transfer speculation, he says he wants to stay.

Frederik Ljungberg
Midfielder
Age: 25

An energetic presence, the Swedish international signed for �3m from Halmstads. Sixteen goals from midfield underline his contribution this season. He put Arsenal ahead in last year's final.

Lauren
Midfielder
Age: 25

Wenger has deployed Lauren primarily as a wing-back this season. In helping Cameroon to the 2000 African Nations' Cup, Lauren was voted player of the tournament and this season he helped his country retain that trophy. He joined Arsenal from Spanish side Real Mallorca for �7.2m.

Bergkamp has had two unhappy FA Cup finals

Thierry Henry
Forward
Age: 24

Henry's misses cost Arsenal dear in last season's final, something he will be hoping to put right in Saturday's final. Another holder of World Cup and European Championship winners' medals, he began his career under Wenger at Monaco.

Kanu
Forward
Age: 25

Nigerian international Kanu overcame serious heart problems while at Inter Milan prior to his �4.5m move to Highbury in January 1999. The former Ajax player is a threat to any defence, although he has not scored that many goals. Possibly the most languid football player in the world.

Dennis Bergkamp
Forward
Age: 32

After spending the first half of the season on the bench, Bergkamp has fought his way back brilliantly. He missed the 1998 final through injury after being named Footballer of the Year and Players' Player of the Year and was a substitute in last season's loss to Liverpool.

Henry has scored over 50 goals in two seasons

Sylvain Wiltord
Forward
Age: 27

Fit after a recent thigh strain, Wiltord has finally found his feet at Highbury. A �13m signing from Bordeaux, the Frenchman scored the equaliser against Italy in the Euro 2000 final which his side went on to win.