On a chilly October evening in 2003, Rotherham United arrived at Highbury for a third-round Carling Cup tie relieved that Patrick Vieira, Arsenal's formidable captain, was unable to play because of injury. In the Frenchman's place Arsene Wenger had selected a midfielder from Catalonia. Francesc ''Cesc'' Fabregas had arrived from Barcelona just four weeks earlier.
On Saturday, after the end of the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley, John Terry is hoping to do what he likes to call a ''Wisey''. Seven years ago the Chelsea captain was 19 and, having just returned from a six-game loan spell at Nottingham Forest, watched from the bench as the last final to be decided in north-west London was won by a 73rd-minute Roberto Di Matteo goal.