Looking Back on All of Arsenal's FA Cup Finals Under Arsene Wenger

Arsenal will play in the FA Cup final on Saturday, marking the seventh appearance for the Gunners in football's oldest club competition's showpiece under long-time manager Arsene Wenger.

On five of the previous six occasions, Arsenal have taken the trophy home, making Wenger the joint-second-most successful manager in FA Cup history. If the Gunners beat Aston Villa at Wembley on May 30, Wenger would move level with George Ramsey for most FA Cup triumphs.

It's not just individual glory at stake. For Arsenal, it would be a 12th FA Cup—one more than Manchester United and the most of any club.

But before the Gunners go for history, let's take a look at the past. Click through the following sides for a rundown of Arsenal's six previous FA Cup final appearances under Wenger.

1997-98: The Double

ALASTAIR GRANT/Associated Press

Arsenal's first FA Cup final appearance under Arsene Wenger came at the end of the Frenchman's first full season in north London, and it completed the club's second league-and-cup double—and first since 1970-71.

Yet it almost didn't happen. In the third round—the entry point for Premier League clubs—Arsenal needed a replay and then a penalty shootout to overcome second-tier side Port Vale. After beating Middlesbrough in the fourth round, the Gunners also faced replays against Crystal Palace and West Ham United in the fifth round and quarter-finals, respectively.

A Christopher Wreh goal sent Arsenal past Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semi-final. At Wembley, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka netted either side of half-time to secure a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United.

2000-01: Stunned by Michael Owen

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Arsenal eliminated Carlisle United, Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur on the way to the 2001 final, the first to be held in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium while Wembley was being rebuilt.

The Gunners appeared set for a narrow victory over Liverpool in the final after Freddie Ljungberg broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. But Arsene Wenger's men missed chances both before and after the goal, and in the closing moments, Michael Owen made them pay.

Owen equalized in the 83rd minute after Arsenal were unable to clear a free-kick. Five minutes later, the diminutive forward outran Tony Adams and Lee Dixon before firing the winner past David Seaman.

2001-02: Another Double

DAN CHUNG/Associated Press

Arsenal's FA Cup disappointment was short-lived. The following year, the Gunners made it back to Cardiff and lifted the trophy, beating Chelsea on the way to completing a second league-and-cup double in four years.

The match remained scoreless into the second half, but Ray Parlour broke the deadlock in the 70th minute with a stunning curling effort from 25 yards. Freddie Ljungberg added the second 10 minutes later, becoming the first man to score in back-to-back FA Cup finals for 40 years.

2002-03: Back-to-Back Triumphs

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Arsenal relinquished the Premier League title to Manchester United in 2002-03, but the Gunners managed to retain the FA Cup trophy with a 1-0 win over Southampton in another Cardiff final.

The route to the final saw Arsenal face Sheffield United at Old Trafford in the semi-finals. That match is notable for a world-class save by David Seaman, which helped Arsene Wenger's side advance with a 1-0 victory.

The final's only goal came late in the first half, when Robert Pires fired in on the rebound in the 38th minute after Freddie Ljungberg's initial shot was blocked. Southampton had a good chance to equalize in the closing moments, but Ashley Cole cleared James Beattie's header off the line.

Arsenal became the first club to retain the trophy since Tottenham in 1982. The match was goalkeeper David Seaman's final appearance for the club.

2004-05: Shootout

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Holders Manchester United stood in Arsenal's way in 2005, but the Gunners won a penalty shootout following a scoreless draw in which United had the better chances.

After holding out for 120 minutes, Arsenal converted all five of their penalties in the shootout, with Lauren, Freddie Ljungberg, Robin van Persie, Ashley Cole and Patrick Vieira all finding the back of the net.

Jens Lehmann saved Paul Scholes' penalty in the second round, setting up the 5-4 shootout victory. It was Arsenal's 10th FA Cup triumph

2013-14: Return to Glory

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Following the 2005 FA Cup final win, Arsenal endured a much-publicised trophy drought. As the 2013-14 season began, the Gunners had not won any silverware in nearly a decade.

The 2014 final, against Hull City at the new Wembley, got off to an inauspicious start for Arsene Wenger's men. Hull scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, through James Chester and Curtis Davies. The Tigers nearly netted a third as well, but Kieran Gibbs cleared an Alex Bruce header off the line.

Arsenal found their way back into the game slowly, starting with Santi Cazorla's 17th-minute free-kick. Laurent Koscielny netted the equalizer 19 minutes from time, sending the game to extra time, in which the Gunners dominated.

The winner came via Aaron Ramsey, who had enjoyed a breakthrough season. Ramsey deposited a low shot into the net at the near post in the 109th minute. With the 3-2 victory, Arsenal ended their nine-year trophy drought and claimed an 11th FA Cup, which is the joint-most of all time alongside Manchester United.

Follow @MiguelCominguez