ENGLAND:Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger recalls the day he played defensively and won the FA Cup

Arsène Wenger has admitted the last time he
sent an Arsenal team out on the defensive
they lifted a trophy.
Arsenal have not won any silverware since
the 2005 FA Cup and are looking to end that
drought in this year's competition.
Wenger's team face Wigan in the semi-finals
at Wembley on Saturday after falling away in
the Premier League title race.
Heavy defeats away at Manchester City ,
Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton have left
Arsenal fighting to hold on to fourth place
and qualify for the Champions League .
Arsenal were hit for six at Chelsea and
Manchester City, let in five goals at Anfield
and were beaten 3-0 by Everton. During each
game, the Gunners conceded at least once
during the opening 20 minutes.
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Those results have left Arsenal players
questioning the lack of work they do on the
opposition. Wenger will not change his
approach against Championship Wigan, but
revealed employing defensive tactics
inspired the club's last trophy success.
Arsenal managed to hold out for a goalless
draw against Manchester United in the 2005
FA Cup final, before winning on penalties.
"We did not deserve to win, it was the only
way we could win it," said Wenger. "At the
start, I didn't set up like that and suddenly
Manchester United were all over us and I
realised that physically we were not able to
compete, so I said, ‘OK let's defend as long
as we can'."
Asked whether he had been tempted to
change to a more defensive style at times
this season, Wenger replied: "Not really, we
have always tried to attack because we have
a team that has that ability.
"What has been strange this season is that
for a long time we looked very strong
defensively, we had an outstanding defensive
record, and we lost it suddenly. That's the
surprise of the season for me."
On his team's bad starts to big games,
Wenger added: "We know the start of the
game is important and the way you respond
is linked with the way you start. When you
don't start strong you always put yourself in
a dangerous situation."
Wenger is yet to sign a new contract to
remain as Arsenal manager and defeats in
key games has increased the uncertainty
regarding his future.
But the Frenchman claims the final games of
the season, in the FA Cup and Premier
League, will not decide his fate.
Wenger refused to discuss his contract
situation, but, directly asked whether results
would determine whether or not he signs a
new deal, the 64-year-old said: "None. I
don't want to talk about that today."
Arsenal have qualified for the Champions
League for 16 successive years, but Wenger
will not choose between fourth place and
winning the FA Cup.
"The Champions League was vital for us with
survival at the top until now and it was the
minimal requirement at the start of the
season. But don't imagine I sacrifice every
day of my life not to win a trophy. Everybody
fights for that.
"We all play to win something. If you are in
the FA Cup everyone can dream of winning it
at the start of the season. The league - only
seven clubs can dream of winning it at the
start of the season.
"It is a dream open to everybody and that is
the beauty of the FA Cup. Last year Wigan
won it, this year you have Sheffield United in
the semi-final and that kind of dream, open
to everybody, makes the competition special.
"It was a dream when I was a kid to watch
the FA Cup. It was one of the competitions
you could watch in black and white on
television.
"What stays in my memory is exactly the
place where I sat at school, because we had
to pay one franc to watch the final.
"What struck me at the time was the ball was
white and the pitch was perfect, because I
played in a village where the pitch was a
disaster."