 The 2003 FA Cup Final was the 122nd final of the FA Cup , the world 's oldest domestic football cup competition . The final took place on Saturday 17 May 2003 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff , in front of a crowd of 73 @,@ 726 . It was the third consecutive year the final was played at the stadium , due to the ongoing reconstruction of Wembley Stadium , the final 's usual venue . The 2003 final was the first to be played indoors ; the roof was closed because of bad weather . The clubs contesting the final were Arsenal , the holders of the competition and Southampton . This was Arsenal 's sixteenth appearance in a final to Southampton 's fourth . 
