Arsenal's number two has real Cup pedigree

There are few in football who can talk about the FA Cup with Rice's authority. Tomorrow, when Arsenal face Blackburn Rovers in Cardiff, he will be taking part in his 13th FA Cup semi-final.

He appeared in six as an Arsenal player, losing just once. "Sunderland beat us 2-1 at Hillsborough in 1973," he recalled. "They had a guy at the front called Vic Halom. He knocked our centre half Jeff Blockley and all the back four all over the place - and he scored one of their goals.

"They were in the old Second Division but they went on to beat Leeds in what is still one of the biggest FA Cup Final shocks."

Rice remembers suffering similar indignities in 1980 when West Ham, then in the Second Division, beat the mighty Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley.

"What was so galling about that defeat was the trouble we had getting there in the first place," he recalled.

"We played Liverpool four times in the semi-finals. In fact we played 11 matches in April that season, including two legs of the Cup Winners Cup semi-final with Juventus.

"We finally beat Liverpool in a third replay at Coventry, Brian Talbot scoring the only goal."

Rice spent the last four years of his playing career at Watford, rejoining Arsenal as a coach in 1984, twice winning the FA Youth Cup. He was promoted to first team duties and has been Wenger's assistant since the Frenchman took over in 1996.

Since then they have lost only two of six semi-finals - - both against Manchester United. The 2-1 defeat at Villa Park in 1999 when Ryan Giggs scored a memorable solo goal in extra time remains a Cup highlight.

Arsenal have won the competition three times under Wenger, though Rice admits they were fortunate in 2002 when they beat Chelsea 2-0 in the final.

"I thought we were lucky to get to the final," he said. "We met Middlesbroughin the semi and we really struggled to beat them 1-0. It was a bit of a shaker because on the day I thought they were the better side."

Arsenal are appearing in a record 25th semi-final, while Manchester United will play in their 24th when they meet Newcastle on Sunday.

"No player will want to lose this weekend," said Rice. "When you're on the losing side it comes back to haunt you a few weeks later when you watch the final. You sit there thinking: 'if only I'd have done this, or done that I could have been out there playing in the Cup Final'.

"I've been lucky because I played in a few finals. At least if you get to the final and lose you can console yourself with the fact that you took part in a great day

"But losing in the semi-final is purgatory. I reminded our boys of that this week."