THE UNBEATEN RUN
Arsenal's unbeaten run is finally over. The team
do however deserve enormous praise for posting a top flight record
that will be extremely hard to surpass in the future. The
statistics from the 49 games are:
Home P25 W20
D5 L0 F63 A21
Pts65
Away P24 W16
D8 L0 F49 A14 Pts56
Overall P49 W36
D13 L0 F112
A35 Pts121
The Gunners used 33 different players during the run, Thierry Henry missed just one game, as did Kolo Toure.
Appearances (+ = sub appearances)
Thierry Henry 48, Kolo Toure 47+1, Jens Lehmann 47,
Ashley Cole 41, Robert Pires 40+5, Lauren 39+2, Sol Campbell 38,
Gilberto 36+3, Fredrik Ljungberg 35+4, Patrick Vieira 34, Dennis
Bergkamp 29+10, Ray Parlour 18+9, Pascal Cygan 15+8, Edu 14+19,
Jose Antonio Reyes 14+8, Gael Clichy 8+8, Sylvain Wiltord 8+4,
Francesc Fabregas 6+2, Kanu 4+8, Jeremie Aliadiere 3+7, Martin
Keown 3+7, Jermaine Pennant 2+5, Oleg Luzhny 2, Igors Stepanovs 2,
Justin Hoyte 1+2, Giovanni van Bronckhorst 1+1, David Bentley 1,
Ryan Garry 1, David Seaman 1, Stuart Taylor 1, Mathieu Flamini +5,
Robin van Persie +3, Stathis Tavlaridis +1.
Fifteen different players found the net in the 49 games. Thierry Henry scored 39 of the 112 goals, Robert Pires notched 23.
Goalscorers
Thierry Henry 39, Robert Pires 23, Fredrik Ljungberg
10, Jose Antonio Reyes 8, Dennis Bergkamp 7, Gilberto 4, Jermaine
Pennant 3, Patrick Vieira 3, Sylvain Wiltord 3, Edu 2, Sol Campbell
1, Francesc Fabregas 1, Kanu 1, Kolo Toure 1, Ashley Cole 1, own
goals 5.
NEW MEMBER OF FANS' FORUM
Stephen Coxhead of Sandhurst, Berks, was the
successful applicant for the recently advertised Fans Forum
position representing 'Red Membership' supporters.
Stephen's first forum will be at the West Bromwich Albion game
in November. Many supporters have asked about how they can become
members of the forum. The rotating nature of forum membership means
that several places will become available in the close season. More
details will be available in April.
TONY ADAMS OFFICIALLY VOTED INTO THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL
MUSEUM HALL OF FAME
The National Football Museum has announced that
Gunners' legend Tony Adams has been officially voted into the
Museum's Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career.
Tony will be officially inducted on the evening of Thursday,
November 4 at the Museum's Annual Charity Hall of Fame event.
Richard Cuthbert from the Museum said: "Tony is the most
successful Arsenal captain in the Club's history and is
recognised as one of the most respected defenders of the modern
era. His record speaks for itself, winning a plethora of trophies
at club level and earning over 50 caps for his country. His place
is rightly earned alongside other playing legends."
The Hall of Fame evening kicks off at 7pm with a champagne reception at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton. This will then be followed by a gala dinner and awards presentation honouring the new intake of eight players and two managers inducted into the Hall of Fame on the night. Be one of only a limited number of exclusive guests at the most memorable night in the English Football Calendar. Secure a ticket now by contacting The National Football Museum on 01772 908403/908400. Individual tickets are £125, tables of ten are £1250.
ADAM BIRCHALL EXTENDS LOAN DEAL
Wycombe Wanderers have extended Adam Birchall's
loan agreement until November 20, 2004. The Welsh Under-21
International forward has been in goal scoring form for Tony
Adams' team, and is on a month-by-month loan deal.
SUPPORT THE ARSENAL LADIES
Our all-conquering girls need your support tomorrow.
The Arsenal Ladies take on Sardinian opponents, Torres Terra Sarda,
in the UEFA Women's Cup at Boreham Wood FC, Meadow Park.
Kick-off is at 5pm and entry to the game is FREE! The Ladies
suffered a very rare defeat at the hands of their Italian
opposition in the first-leg and Vic Akers' team are hoping that
a great atmosphere will help them overturn the 2-0 deficit. Be a
part of their chase for European glory and lend your support by
cheering them on to victory. On the subject of Arsenal Ladies,
today's programme poster is a unique team group taken on
photocall day which features both the Club's 'double'
winners.
THE ARSENAL CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
This Christmas treat your favourite Arsenal fan to a
yuletide VIP Highbury experience when Arsenal take on Fulham on
Boxing Day or when Manchester City visit on January 4, 2005.
Matchday Hospitality Package
Cost: Arsenal Members - £295 pp
Non-Members - £350 pp
Museum Package (Manchester City only)
Cost: Arsenal Members - £265 pp
Non-Members - £295 pp
PLUS with both packages you will receive a signed photograph of a player of your choice along with a £10 Arsenal gift voucher and invitation letter. In addition your guest will be able to take their photograph with the Premiership trophy on the day.
For full details on the packages or to make a reservation please
visit our website www.arsenal.com/hospitality
or email hospitality@arsenal.co.uk.
Telephone number: 020 7704 4550
Please note:
- Arsenal members must include their membership
number on the form to qualify for the discount.
- All prices inclusive of VAT.
- Signature choice subject to player availability.
CANONBURY ARE VETS CHAMPIONS
Local team Canonbury FC won their first ever Veterans' League
title this summer, as five years of steady improvement paid off.
The achievement was also doubled by Canonbury's domination of
the 2nd Division. It was the first Vets League 'double' for
ten years. The Veterans' League takes place on Sunday evenings
in the Arsenal Sports Centre. Teams are 7-a-side, with a maximum
squad of 10. Players must be 35 or older and each game lasts 40
minutes. If you would like to enter a team for season 2005/06,
please contact league secretary Mark Antoniewicz at mantoniewicz@arsenal.co.uk
or at Arsenal Sports Centre on 020 7704 4140. Four representatives
of Canonbury FC are being presented with medals on the pitch before
today's match.
POSITIVE FUTURES PRESENTATION
Following a penalty-shoot out in the Sports Hall
before the match, a group from Positive Futures are being presented
with medals on the pitch at half-time today. Positive Futures is a
Government scheme which enables young people to be empowered
through football.
FRANKIE SIMEK JOINS QPR ON LOAN
Frankie Simek has joined Coca-Cola Championship side Queens Park
Rangers on loan, initially for one month. American defender Simek,
20, who has been a regular in the reserves for the past two
seasons, made his Arsenal first team debut last season, producing a
composed performance at the centre of defence in the 5-1 home
victory over Wolves in the Carling Cup Fourth Round. Everyone at
Arsenal wishes Frankie the best of luck during his time with
QPR.
ARSENE AGREES CONTRACT EXTENSION
Arsenal FC is delighted to announce that manager Arsène Wenger
has agreed a three-year contract extension that will keep him at
the Club until May 31, 2008 thus ensuring that he leads the team
into its new home at Emirates Stadium which is due to open in
August 2006. Since arriving at the Club in September 1996,
Arsène has made an immense contribution to establishing
Arsenal as a leading force in both domestic and European
football.
In seven full seasons, he has guided the Club to six major trophies - three FA Premier League titles and three FA Cups - and has never finished outside the top two positions in the Premier League, thus achieving automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League. During his reign, Arsène has also been named 'Manager of the Year' three times including in 2004 when the Gunners were crowned Premier League champions without losing a single game during the 38-match campaign. Arsène said: "My intention has always been clear. I love Arsenal and am very happy here - signing a new contract just rubber-stamps my desire to take this Club forward and fulfil my ambitions.
"I still have so much to achieve and my target is to drive this Club on, not only by sustaining our recent success but building upon it. These are exciting times for Arsenal and I'm proud to be the manager.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: "We are absolutely delighted that Arsène has signed an extension to his contract. Since his arrival in 1996, he has revolutionised the Club both on and off the pitch. "The Club has continued to reap the benefits of Arsène's natural eye for unearthing footballing talent and we currently have a fantastic crop of young players coming through the ranks together with a number of world class players who are playing a wonderful brand of football."
ARSENAL TIME CAPSULE
On Thursday afternoon a time capsule was placed at
Emirates Stadium, containing a variety of artifacts and keepsakes
from down the years. There are more than 30 items in the capsule,
including the current shirt signed by the whole squad, a piece of
the Highbury turf, a flag from Highbury and a list of every player
to have appeared for the Gunners. There's even a lock of
Charlie George's hair Patrick Vieira and Arsène Wenger
were among those present at the ceremony and we will have more
details in Tuesday's programme.
