Giggs’ Goal Still Haunt Wenger

Arsenal’s FA Cup quarterfinal at Manchester United on Monday will revive bitter memories for manager Arsene Wenger who says he is still spooked by a Ryan Giggs wonder goal in 1999.
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Giggs scored one of the most memorable goals ever in the competition’s long history when he weaved his way through Arsenal’s defence in extra time to deliver a knockout blow in a semifinal replay at Villa Park.
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Arsenal’s Dennis Bergkamp had missed a penalty in the last minute of normal time with the score 1-1.
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United went on to complete a treble but Wenger says that night at Villa Park proved pivotal and believes had Bergkamp not missed a penalty, United’s run to glory would have been derailed.
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“I saw the goal again when Giggs retired,” Wenger said in an interview with The Sun. “It won them the treble because if Bergkamp had scored it was game over.
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“It was a trauma for us in a negative way and for them in a positive way. It put them on the road to glory.
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“I still can hear the shouts of that team having won (2-1). They couldn’t believe it, because they were down to 10 men.”
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Back then Arsenal and United were the two dominant teams in England — vying for supremacy on an annual basis.
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United ended up winning the Premier League in 1999 by a point from the Gunners and completed the treble with an extraordinary comeback against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.
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“1999 was a miracle year for them,” said Wenger, whose side beat United in the 2005 FA Cup final.
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With United and Arsenal effectively out of the title race and in the bunch of clubs chasing a top-four finish, Monday’s Cup tie offers a welcome distraction from worrying about points.
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“The FA Cup is about giving it all on the day,” said Wenger, whose side are third in the table, a point above United.