Football / FA Cup Final: Mam-for-Man Marking

DAVID SEAMAN. . . . . . . . . .6

An outstanding early save from Waddle's free-kick, but was then hardly on call until the second half, when he proved that he is still the second best goalkeeper in England.

LEE DIXON. . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Enough of those 'he should be right back behind the goal' cracks. He had Harkes in his pocket in the first half, and came forward with passion and verve. Sensibly chose to refrain from crossing.

NIGEL WINTERBURN. . . . . .7

Enjoyed himself in a Waddle-less first half, but after the break defence was a troublesome priority. Came forward nearly as well as Dixon, which hasn't always been the case.

ANDY LINIGHAN. . . . . . . . .7

Missed the best chance to open the scoring but made amends with his knock-on for Wright to score. It has taken him two years to look the part at Arsenal, but with Bright under his thumb he did here.

TONY ADAMS. . . . . . . . . . .7

The donkey is still chasing this particular carrot. Cool and indomitable when Wednesday started to dominate. His sort of game.

KEVIN CAMPBELL. . . . . . .5

Enjoyed a bullish first half, but never looked like being the striker to turn the game.

IAN WRIGHT. . . . . . . . . . .7

Could have had good odds on his ending his Wembley drought with a header like that, but thanks to the injury his jinx still lurks.

PAUL MERSON. . . . . . . . . .6

He was expected to do a Charlie George and may well do so on Thursday. This time there was too much fetching and carrying.

RAY PARLOUR. . . . . . . . . .6

After a promising first full season, he was not quite up to the occasion. Even so, his substitution depleted Arsenal's midfield.

PAUL DAVIS. . . . . . . . . . .7

His thoughtful free-kick for Wright's goal exhibited just the sort of guile Arsenal have missed all season. His asset was always composure, and that doesn't fade with age.

JOHN JENSEN. . . . . . . . . .7

Danes have acquired a reputation for spoiling the party. As instructed he refused to let Sheridan strut his stuff.

ALAN SMITH. . . . . . . . . . .6

Should have been on from the start, and surely will be on Thursday. Unfortunately he replaced the wide player who might have supplied the aerial service he needs.

DAVID O'LEARY. . . . . . . .6

Not a bad way to for the old warhorse to sign off.

CHRIS WOODS. . . . . . . . . .7

Save of the match from Wright's swinging volley, and a pillar of solidity throughout.

ROLAND NILSSON. . . . . . .6

The first Swede to play in the oldest of fixtures. One stinging shot caught the eye but his main contribution was to stop Merson.

NIGEL WORTHINGTON. . . .7

Not one to blow it on the big occasion. His competence is unspectacular but highly valued. Parlour's departure gave him licence to roam.

CARLTON PALMER. . . . . . .7

As expected, he was full of gung-ho running, but frustrated in the first half by his colleagues' failure to take the game to Arsenal. He did the job required of him when moved into defence.

DAVID HIRST. . . . . . . . . .6

At first he looked too unfit to make a difference, achieving the near impossible of making Linighan look like a strolling maestro. But the game desperately needed his well-taken goal.

VIV ANDERSON. . . . . . . . .6

A rousing ovation for what could have been his last appearance at HQ, but his daddy-longlegs looked too old to stand 90 minutes chasing Arsenal's front line.

CHRIS WADDLE. . . . . . . . .7

What a difference an interval makes. Before it he might as well have been back at the sausage factory; after it he looked a lot more like the writers' choice.

PAUL WARHURST. . . . . . . .8

Back at the back, and bar one or two wobbles you could see why he prefers it there. One day he will be an authoritative sweeper. Having said that, Wednesday might have won with him leading the line.

MARK BRIGHT. . . . . . . . . .5

He took his time to out-jump Linighan, but his knock-on for the equaliser was deadly. Overall though, he was too sluggish to get any joy out of Arsenal's centre-backs.

JOHN SHERIDAN. . . . . . .7

Anonymous with Jensen in his shadow and Waddle stepping on his toes, he blossomed after the interval.

JOHN HARKES. . . . . . . . .6

The USA's first FA Cup finallist. Athletic and eager, but lacking the tricks to trouble Dixon. Clever set-up for Hirst's goal.

CHRIS BART-WILLIAMS

He didn't have enough time to make a mark.

GRAHAM HYDE. . . . . . . . .7

The unsung little terrier that every good side need. He came on and nagged away at Arsenal's midfield well enough to keep them at bay.