Liverpool's killer punch

Owen is mobbed by Liverpool team-mates after scoring

BBC Sport Online chief football writer Phil McNulty reflects on how Liverpool turned the tables on an Arsenal tradition to win a dramatic FA Cup Final.

Liverpool threw a piece of Arsenal's history back in their face to snatch the FA Cup out of Arsene Wenger's grasp.

Football history is littered with hard luck stories from managers who were frustrated by Arsenal's defensive blanket as trophies headed to Highbury.

"One-nil to the Arsenal" was a familair refrain - but it is exactly because those days have gone that Liverpool won the FA Cup at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Arsenal, the desperately unlucky Arsenal it must be said, were beaten at what used to be their own game - and by a referee and assistant who missed the major decision of the day.

Ljungberg battles Murphy

The team who once had the biggest bite of all were bitten back by Liverpool.

And the pain will linger for a long, long time.

Wenger's Arsenal may have more flair than the George Graham vintage, but the lack of a ruthless streak and advancing years have robbed them of the killer touch.

Michael Owen wrote himself into Liverpool and FA Cup folklore with his late mugging of Arsenal - but it should never have mattered.

Arsenal were denied the most blatant of penalties when Stephane Henchoz handled on the line from Thierry Henry in the first half.

It was arguably the defining moment of the game - Arsenal would have had a goal and Liverpool may have lost a defender.

If only referee Steve Dunn and his assistant Kevin Pike had witnessed it.

But after that Arsenal had only themselves to blame for the fact that they suffered what may be a watershed defeat and ended the season empty handed.

Thierry Henry will never miss so many chances - and never has so much possession led to so little end product.

If possession is indeed nine-tenths of the law, Arsenal were guilty of criminal negligence.

Houllier's joy

Arsenal played beautifully, but not ruthlessly. The old Arsenal played ruthlessly, but not necessarily beautifully.

And that is why Liverpool did not just leave Arsenal heartbroken in Cardiff, they may have removed the spine of a legendary Highbury team.

Patrick Vieira ran midfield, Henry was a terror in attack - but this Liverpool team has resilience beyond measure.

And while there was life, and Michael Owen, there was hope.

Liverpool showed once again they are the British game's premier counter punchers, soaking up heavy punishment before delivering the killer blow.

And when you have master marksman like Owen at the sharp end, it is a style you can play with a measure of confidence.

Owen justified boss Gerard Houllier's decision to disappoint Robbie Fowler with the most devastating, critically timed double of his career.

Dixon tackles Heskey

The first punch stunned Arsenal, and the second knocked the Gunners to the canvas just as the final bell of the FA Cup Final was about to sound.

Wenger was rightly bitterly disappointed, but showed commendable realism when he also pointed out Arsenal simply displayed the failings that have haunted them all season.

The most significant comment of all, perhaps, came when he pointed out how Arsenal have now lost their two most important games of the season - in Valencia and against Liverpool - in the last 15 minutes.

Arsenal's wonderful trio of Lee Dixon, Tony Adams and David Seaman almost aged before our eyes in the moment it took Owen to hunt down Patrik Berger's pass and score the winner with three minutes left.

And this may be weighing heavily on Wenger's mind as he contemplates his summer - as well as looking to add a ruthless edge to his attack.

Arsenal did not deserve to lose, but the manner in which they lost may have crystallised a few more of Wenger's thoughts on rebuilding.

Liverpool, in contrast, seem indestructible - and when you have Dame Fortune riding with you anything is possible.

Owen scores the winner

They clung to the FA Cup Final for dear life until they had their chance, and took it with ruthless efficiency.

Owen is in the form of his life and Houllier has a squad bursting at the seams with quality.

And all this with the Uefa Cup still to play for against Alaves in Dortmund.

Houllier will strengthen again in the summer, and his transformation of Liverpool has been truly remarkable.

The purists may gripe at their methods, they may still have some way to go to catch Manchester United - but they will not care down Anfield way.

Liverpool have won The Worthington Cup, the FA Cup is back at Anfield after nine years - and the Uefa Cup awaits.

It is not a bad return in a transitional period.

And it may just be the sort of transition Arsene Wenger will contemplate when the pain of this cruel defeat eases.