FA: We did not bow to Wenger's demands

The Football Association have denied that they moved the date of next season's FA Cup final in response to lobbying from Arsene Wenger.

Wenger, who was unhappy that Arsenal had to face Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final just four days before they played Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, said: "The FA have promised they will change the fixtures and not put the FA Cup semi-final in front of the Champions League quarter-finals.

"It makes a big change that they have listened to me!"

This claim prompted the FA to issue a statement clarifying their decision-making process as they insist the decision was made long before Arsenal's complaints.

The FA said: "The decision to play next season's FA Cup semi-finals on 16 April, a date which has no clashes with UEFA Champions League fixtures, was taken last autumn. As always the process revolved around finding the best date rather than responding to a request from any individual club."

Wenger yesterday revealed that he would play a virtual reserve side in the semi-finals next season if his first team were again facing a Champions League quarter-final a few days later. This season, Wenger rested Thierry Henry for the first 60 minutes at Villa Park, a decision that backfired as Arsenal lost to United and then to Chelsea four days later.

It is the one mistake the Arsenal manager has admitted to this season as his treble dream vanished. He added: "We wanted to go for everything. I'm convinced that's where we were a little bit unlucky and I made a mistake.

"I should have dropped the FA Cup earlier as we played United twice (league and then FA Cup) between the two Chelsea games. We dropped away in the second-half in the second leg and the two United games were perhaps a bit too much.