Sporting Life
David Seaman produced one of the greatest saves ever as Arsenal beat Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final
David Seaman produced one of the greatest saves ever as Arsenal beat Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final

Sheffield United v Arsenal FA Cup quarter-final: David Seaman’s amazing save for Arsenal against Sheffield United in FA Cup semi-final one of the greatest ever

By Paul Higham
12:54 · SUN June 28, 2020

Goalkeepers are paid to keep the ball out of the net, but every so often they produce a moment of jaw-dropping magic that leaves you every bit as stunned as a 35-yard thunderbolt from an outfield player.

Sheffield United v Arsenal

You know a save is good when it is thereafter forever prefixed with ‘that’ - and it is ‘that’ save from David Seaman in Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United that has been etched into Gunners folklore.

Freddie Ljungberg gave Arsenal a 1-0 win at Old Trafford but that day, April 13, 2003, belonged to Seaman, the 39-year-old that made a mockery of his age with a save of eye-watering elasticity to deny Paul Peschisolido a deserved equaliser.

The Blades striker’s close-range flicked header seemed destined to go in but for Seaman, who was making his 1,000th senior appearance by the way, stuck out one of those big Yorkshire hands to somehow scoop the ball off the line and away from danger.

Seaman defied the odds in emphatic fashion - a man approaching his 40s should not have been sporting such a ponytail as the England keeper, but a man of his years should also not be able to stretch and bend in such a manner.

Watch it again, in the clip below...

David Seaman's incredible FA Cup save | From The Archive

Perhaps the greatest measure of how good a save it was came from old safe hands himself, who labelled it as the best of his lengthy and hugely impressive career – now that’s saying something.

“I was fortunate enough to make one or two important saves from penalties for England, but from open play that one at Old Trafford was probably the best,” said Seaman.

"I thought it was in, to be honest. I just flung my arm and tried to get something on it.

“They say, 'I don't know how you managed to get a hand to it when the ball was only two inches from the line', and I tell them it was a lot closer than that!”

‘That’ save also confirmed the footballing gods were not on Sheffield United’s side that day, as Ljungberg’s winner came in hugely controversial fashion as referee Graham Poll had run into Michael Tonge in the build-up.

Arsenal would go on to beat Southampton in the final, where Seaman captained the side in what turned out to be his last game for the club before leaving to join Manchester City.

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