The 2001 FA Cup remaining was one of many most important causes Michael Owen received the Ballon d’Or, however one Arsenal participant was so good in that sport he left Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard surprised.
Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-1 in 2001 FA Cup remaining
Liverpool received an iconic treble within the 2000-01 season, as they have been topped League Cup champions, received the UEFA Cup (renamed UEFA Europa League) and overcame Arsenal within the FA Cup on the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The victory over the Gunners is principally remembered for the efficiency of Owen, who was topped one of the best participant on the earth later that yr on the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Michael Owen’s Ballon d’Or successful season | Liverpool and England |
|---|---|
Appearances | 55 |
Targets | 31 |
Assists | 8 |
Trophies | FA Cup, UEFA Cup, League Cup |
The Gunners largely dominated the match nevertheless, primarily because of their midfield of Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Gilles Grimandi and Freddie Ljungberg. Ljungberg ultimately broke the impasse about 20 minutes from full time, and the legendary Thierry Henry even missed an opportunity to make it 2-0 shortly after, which he would quickly come to remorse.
With lower than ten minutes to go, Owen pounced on a poor clearance to equalise. 5 minutes later the comeback was full, because the striker raced previous Tony Adams and Lee Dixon earlier than firing a superb end past David Seaman.
Owen was unsurprisingly named Man of the Match, however Jamie Carragher has since revealed that such was Arsenal’s dominance, the efficiency of Vieira left a younger Gerrard shocked, a lot so he nonetheless talked about it for years afterwards.
Vieira was “nearly as good as something we’ve got seen”
Talking in 2014, Carragher namede Vieira in his XI of greatest overseas gamers in Premier League historical past, and revealed the Liverpool squad have been surprised by how good he was on the Millennium Stadium.
“A monster, his partnership with Emmanuel Petit was nearly as good as something we’ve got seen. His efficiency towards Liverpool within the 2001 FA Cup remaining stands out.
“He was magnificent and did not should be on the dropping facet. Within the dressing room afterwards, everybody stored saying: ‘how good was Vieira?’ Steven Gerrard nonetheless talks about that sport as Vieira made him realise he needed to climb a couple of extra ranges to succeed in the highest.
“It says every little thing that golf equipment, once they signal younger midfielders, hope they flip into ‘the following Vieira’.”
Vieira made 405 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 32 objectives and successful seven main trophies, together with three Premier League titles.
Gerrard later confirmed his admiration for Gunners legend, saying forward of their assembly because the managers of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively: “He’s a person I’ve numerous admiration and respect for, initially as a participant.
Patrick Vieira in footage
“I had many battles towards Patrick, some highs, some lows. He was actually a participant you can actually go and compete towards. You possibly can kick him, battle him, compete towards him and he’d shake your hand after the sport.
“He was a prime, prime footballer and one of many hardest battles I ever confronted by way of being a participant, and I anticipate the identical to be the case from the facet. I do know he’s a winner.”
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And the Liverpool star clearly discovered a factor or two from their encounter within the remaining, as he truly boasts a optimistic face to face file in matches towards Vieira, successful seven, drawing three and dropping 5.
There is no such thing as a doubt that the pair have been the heartbeat of their golf equipment and two of the best midfielders in Premier League historical past.
