But the Gunners, who hammered Southampton 6-1 10 days ago, went ahead seven minutes before half time.
Ray Parlour played the ball inside to Henry who slipped it neatly out to Bergkamp. The Dutchman fed the ball to Ljungberg whose shot was blocked but rebounded to the unmarked Pires. He needed just one touch before firing home from 10m out for his 16th goal of the season.
The goal sparked Arsenal into more raids on the Saints goal and two shots by Bergkamp were blocked close to the line with the Gunners just unable to get hold of the rebounds.
Bergkamp almost made it two when he turned Ormerod and fired a curling shot which Niemi pushed away with his fists. The ball came clear to Ljungberg and the Swede -- bidding to become the first player to score in three finals in a row -- fired into the side netting.
At the other end, Paul Telfer climbed above the Arsenal defense to meet a Matt Oakley corner only to head over the bar with Seaman off his line.
A minute later, Henry went close to increasing Arsenal's lead with a break from the halfway line but Niemi dived low to his left to finger-tip the Frenchman's shot round the post.
Saints were forced to make a goalkeeping change in the 65th minute when Niemi tore a calf muscle in his right leg while making a clearance. Welsh international Paul Jones took over in the stadium where his national team plays its home games.
Ten minutes later Jo Tessem replaced Anders Svensson and had a great chance to equalize within seconds of going on. A right wing cross came to him wide on the left but his tamely hit shot was blocked at the near post.
Seven minutes from the end, Saints almost drew level when Ormerod collected a pass from Tessem on his chest and fired a powerful close range drive which Seaman pushed over the bar with an reflex-action save.
The game was in the fifth minute of injury time when Saints won a series of corners and Beattie, who was otherwise shut out of the game by the Arsenal defense, met a flag kick from Oakley only for Cole to clear the ball off the line.
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