20 years ago, one of the most talented squads English football has ever seen immortalised itself in the game’s history. Their achievement in remaining unbeaten throughout a league campaign is unrivalled in the modern era, and two decades on, only grows in prestige.
The seeds for their success were sown at the start of 2002/03, when fresh off winning a second Double of his reign, Arsène Wenger suggested his players were capable of being unbeatable.
Many outsiders scoffed and swiftly poured scorn on Wenger when we fell to defeat 10 games in. But being the revolutionary that he was, our legendary manager was adamant the impossible was possible.
Ten games into 2003/04, we had claimed an infamous draw at Manchester United and beaten title rivals Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea in consecutive matches. Momentum was snowballing, and gathered pace as autumn turned to winter.
February saw us smash our club record of 23 matches unbeaten from the start of a season, and another draw against Manchester United at Highbury saw us set a new English league record of 30, despite a crazy fixture pile-up that saw our dreams of a Treble slip away.
But spearheaded by the goals of the talismanic Thierry Henry, we kept our league form going with a thrilling win against Liverpool. Beaten in submission, our challengers faded away and we clinched the league title in the sweetest possible fashion - at the home of Tottenham Hotspur.
That put us within touching distance of a feat only Preston North End’s 1888/89 side could lay claim to - staying unbeaten all season, and Wenger’s prediction would come true as we ticked off the final four matches to record the first-ever 38-game undefeated campaign.
It had been inconceivable, but the feat was incredible. Forever, they will be Invincible.
Wenger: "At the start of 2003/04, the players said I had put them under too much pressure by asking them not to lose a game. But I said: 'I think you can do it, you just need to really want to do it.’ Sometimes you need to put the seed of an idea in the brain a year early, then be patient until it comes out."
A ROARING START
The campaign kicked off with us trying to wrestle the Premier League trophy back from Manchester United, but a new threat in Chelsea were also looming large, bankrolled by fresh investment from Roman Abramovich. Liverpool and Newcastle United had also been in contention in recent seasons, and we would have to face all four within the first couple of months.
GAME 1 • AUGUST 16, 2003
arsenal 2
everton 1
We began the new season in winning fashion in an incident-packed match. Despite seeing Sol Campbell red-carded in the 25th minute for a professional foul, we went ahead 10 minutes later when Thierry Henry converted a penalty.
Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, we continued to push forward in the second half and were rewarded when Robert Pires made it 2-0 despite a fine double save from our former keeper Richard Wright.
But just as we seemed set to cruise home, Tomasz Radzinski thumped home a lifeline for Everton with six minutes left, but Li Tie’s late dismissal evened up the numbers and ensured an opening-day win.
Henry: "People forget it wasn’t an easy ride to open the season. I think you just want to start well – it doesn’t matter who scores."
GAME 2 • AUGUST 24, 2003
MIDDLESBROUGH 0
ARSENAL 4
We stormed to an emphatic victory at the Riverside Stadium to move top of the early Premier League table, and the game was all but over as a contest after 22 minutes. Thierry Henry put us ahead after just five when he latched onto a saved Freddie Ljungberg effort, and then Gilberto doubled the lead with his first league goal.
Sylvain Wiltord made it 3-0 and virtually game over on 22 minutes. Robert Pires found Henry on the left and he played an inch-perfect pass into Wiltord in the box who directed the ball home past Mark Schwarzer.
The fourth came 15 minutes into the second half. Sol Campbell's long pass from inside the centre circle picked out Ljungberg on the right side of the area. The Swede played an unselfish pass across the face of goal for Wiltord to hit high into the net to complete his brace.
Gilberto: "With players like Thierry, Robert Pires, Freddie, Dennis, Kanu, Wiltord – at some point you wanted to go to the playground as well!"
GAME 3 • AUGUST 27, 2003
ARSENAL 2
ASTON VILLA 0
We eventually broke down Villa with two goals in the second half. Thierry Henry came close to opening the scoring in the first half when he struck just wide of the post after receiving a magnificent ball from Kolo Toure, but it was goalless at the break.
Not long after returning to the pitch though, we made the breakthrough when Sol Campbell pounced upon a defensive error to score with a determined header 12 minutes after the restart.
It was Henry who guaranteed the points, rounding the keeper after Dennis Bergkamp charged down Olof Mellberg's clearance, ensuring we stayed top of the table ahead of Manchester United - the only other team with a 100 per cent record after three matches.
Henry: "People forget it wasn’t an easy ride to open the season. I think you just want to start well – it doesn’t matter who scores."
“It seemed to be a culmination of “local” Arsenal and “global” Arsenal. A squad derived from many parts of the world but moulded into a side representing Arsenal fans everywhere.”
- Clive Palmer, supporter
GAME 4 • AUGUST 31, 2003
MANCHESTER CITY 1
ARSENAL 2
We recovered from conceding an extraordinary own goal to make it four wins from four. City's opener was as incredible as it was unexpected when Lauren swept the ball past Jens Lehmann under pressure from Trevor Sinclair, but we collected ourselves and set about trying to score past recent City recruit David Seaman.
We equalised on 47 minutes when Sylvain Wiltord found space after some clever inter-play by Robert Pires and Ashley Cole, and finished calmly by nutmegging our former legendary shot-stopper.
Our team spirit was in full view as we began to realise that with Manchester Utd losing the same day a victory would see us begin September with a three-point advantage, and with 18 minutes left Freddie Ljungberg grabbed a chance presented to him by some slack defending by scoring his first of the season.
Keown: "It was Kolo Toure's first season as a central defender, and I remember playing with him against City. He was literally running around me, like he was trying to protect me!"
GAME 5 • SEPTEMBER 13, 2003
ARSENAL 1
PORTSMOUTH 1
Our winning start ended at the hands of a side labelled as prime candidates for relegation, but Portsmouth showed that they could play their way to safety as Teddy Sheringham netted a header in the 26th minute.
Pompey’s other frontman, Yakubu was a constant menace for our back four and could have put his team in front a few minutes previously, but buried a shot into the arms of Jens Lehmann.
We then came to life and with five minutes remaining in the first half, Robert Pires was sent galloping into the box only to be felled by the outstretched leg of Dejan Stefanovic. Thierry Henry tucked in a re-taken spot-kick to send the teams into the interval level, but neither could find a winner.
Vieira: "The squad was full of quality, but I’d say the number one quality was the mental strength to believe we would always get back into a game."
GAME 6 • SEPTEMBER 21, 2003
MANCHESTER UNITED 0
ARSENAL 0
For a game that has gone down in Premier League history, the majority of the 90 minutes was a drab affair with both teams failing to land a glove on each other before the powder keg ignited with 10 minutes to go.
Referee Steve Bennett ordered Patrick Vieira from the field of play for a second bookable offence after he kicked out following an incident with Ruud van Nistelrooy, sparking a 21-man scuffle.
Then in injury time, Martin Keown clashed with substitute striker Diego Forlan in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, but van Nistelrooy blasted his effort against the crossbar, sparking wild celebrations that spilt over following the full-time whistle. However, it was a point earned, a point proved and a place at the top of the league table.
Pires: "When Ruud van Nistelrooy missed the penalty everybody was very happy – especially Martin Keown! He looked ready to kill."
Lauren: "My main memory is I got a huge fine! I’m still annoyed about that!"
Vieira: "When I look back at it, and see the images – it all makes me smile!"
Lehmann: "The managers were face-to-face - I had never seen anything like that in a tunnel. It described perfectly the rivalry."
Keown: "Every other team seemed to crumble at Old Trafford, but we were never going to do that. We saw it as an opportunity to show we were better than them."
GAME 7 • SEPTEMBER 26, 2003
arsenal 3
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2
In a match of great excitement that refused to be doused by the first-half torrential downpour, we managed to edge past a Magpies side who were title contenders going into the campaign.
We took the lead thanks to an opportunist goal by Thierry Henry. The Frenchman collected a cross swung in on the right-hand side by Lauren which looked to be cut out by Titus Bramble, and stabbed it in the net. However, Patrick Vieira left the field due to an injury and Newcastle took immediate advantage through Laurent Robert who converted a Kieron Dyer cut-back to bring the teams level.
The second half brought a halt to the rain not the pace of the game as a thunderous Gilberto header put us back ahead. Newcastle again responded with a wonderstrike four minutes later from Olivier Bernard, but after Jermaine Jenas handled rather than headed a Robert Pires corner with 10 minutes to go, Henry stepped up and cheekily chipped the resultant penalty past Shay Given.
Lauren: "My seat in the dressing room was next to the window that looked out into the street. You could feel the crowd two or three hours before the game. They gave you everything you needed to perform."
GAME 8 • OCTOBER 4, 2003
LIVERPOOL 1
ARSENAL 2
We performed a smash-and-grab operation at Anfield to extend our unbeaten league run to eight games, thanks to a wonderful strike from Robert Pires midway through the second half.
Recovering from a Champions League trip to Moscow, we started the match in apprehensive fashion and allowed the hosts time and space, and Harry Kewell capitalised on our generosity by firing a volley past Jens Lehmann 14 minutes in. The Reds had further chances to put the game beyond reach but fortunately, the scoreline remained the same.
We went into the break level after equalising through a Sami Hyypia own goal. Then with 22 minutes remaining, Edu won possession outside the Liverpool penalty area and squared to Pires. The Frenchman shifted the ball across to a central position before letting fly with a right-footed shot from 25 yards which gave Jerzy Dudek no chance, curling into the top corner.
Pires: "At the time my private life was very difficult. That’s why I was so emotional when I scored, and you see it in the celebration. I needed that goal."
“There was a particular sense of privilege watching the team that year. Trying to find the right words to chronicle something historic was a fascination and a pressure.”
- Amy Lawrence, journalist and supporter
GAME 9 • OCTOBER 18, 2003
ARSENAL 2
CHELSEA 1
For the fourth game in a row we took on a title challenger, and this dramatic London derby moved us a point clear of Manchester United. Our start was as bright as the sunshine in which Highbury was bathed in. Thierry Henry nearly profited from Sylvain Wiltord's cutback in the second minute, and three minutes later, Edu saw a free-kick deflect off Ray Parlour to beat Carlo Cudicini.
The lead lasted only three minutes. A perceptive ball from Claude Makelele put Hernan Crespo in behind Lauren. The Argentinian cut back to get the ball onto his right foot and produced a curling shot that arced past Jens Lehmann into the top right-hand corner.
The winner arrived with 15 minutes left, courtesy of an error by Cudicini. Robert Pires squared a pass from the right into the middle of the penalty area, and the Italian keeper rushed out to beat Henry to the ball but, in stooping to collect, it slipped through his fingers and hit the knees of our striker before bobbling into the unguarded net.
Edu: "If you are asking me about my big memories from that season, it’s not a goal, game or specific moment – it’s the way we were together, and the spirit we had in the team."
tHE title fight
Two months in and it looked as though it would be a three-horse race for the silverware. We led the table after nine games, with Manchester United a point behind, with Chelsea also within touching distance despite their first defeat. All three would hit top spot before the turn of the year as they jockeyed for position and searched for form.
GAME 10 • OCTOBER 26, 2003
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1
ARSENAL 1
Having been knocked down to second the day before, we reclaimed top spot in the Premier League thanks to a classic Thierry Henry free-kick at Charlton.
The Addicks made the early running but, for all their territorial advantage in the opening exchanges, they never called Jens Lehmann into action until on 27 minutes when Paolo di Canio chipped a spot-kick over the keeper after Lauren was harshly adjudged to have tripped Matt Holland.
Henry almost levelled with a fantastic 25-yard effort which crashed against the post but he found the target from a similar range five minutes before the interval, leaving Dean Kiely helpless with a trademark curler into the top corner, and earned a hard-fought point that kept our unbeaten record intact.
Aliadiere: "When we weren’t performing particularly well, we’d still find a way to grind out results. We just believed we wouldn’t be beaten."
GAME 11 • NOVEMBER 1, 2003
LEEDS UNITED 1
ARSENAL 4
In this win Arsène Wenger’s team were at their fluent, flowing best, allowing Leeds possession in areas of the pitch where they posed no threat before devastatingly catching them on the break, which is how Thierry Henry and Robert Pires put us 2-0 ahead after 16 minutes.
Henry added another before half-time when Ray Parlour sped up the right and found Dennis Bergkamp who prodded a shot goalwards which beat Paul Robinson, smacked off the base of the post and fell to Henry who fired in his second from a tight angle.
Five minutes after the break, Pires sent in a low cross which Sol Campbell mis-kicked, however the ball fell to Gilberto at the far post who calmly slotted his shot into the net to make it 4-0, with Alan Smith netting the merest of consolations.
Bergkamp: "That feeling you have when you know you are stronger than your opponent – that’s magical. We knew we were going to win, it was just a question of by how much."
GAME 12 • NOVEMBER 8, 2003
ARSENAL 2
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
Two goals in nine minutes late in the second half saw us come from behind to beat Spurs and take the derby day spoils, but just five minutes in Darren Anderton stole in to poke a shot past Jens Lehmann.
Tottenham's lead would last for over an hour, but just as patience was turning into frustration, our equaliser arrived. Ray Parlour's raking ball allowed Thierry Henry to beat Tottenham's offside trap, and a shot from the striker squirmed its way to Pires at the far post who slotted home.
We fancied a winner and in the 78th minute, Nwankwo Kanu found Freddie Ljungberg advancing down the left. He made it to the edge of the area and, with little on, fired goalwards and his shot hit Stephen Carr's outstretched foot, ballooned over Kasey Keller and fell into the net to claim victory.
Pires: "I don’t know why I scored a lot of goals against Spurs. It’s strange, but for me, Tottenham were always the perfect victim!"
GAME 13 • NOVEMBER 22, 2003
BIRMINGHAM CITY 0
ARSENAL 3
We set a new Premier League record of failing to lose any of our first 13 games of a season, and were in front after just four minutes. Dennis Bergkamp dispossessed Kenny Cunningham and found Thierry Henry on the edge of the box. He slipped a cute pass through to Freddie Ljungberg and the Swedish midfielder beat Maik Taylor with ease.
With 10 minutes to go we were bracing ourselves for an anxious finale, but we were spared that inconvenience by Bergkamp who did what we had regularly threatened to do - scoring on the break. Henry was the architect, receiving the ball inside his own half and releasing the captain, who raced in on goal and produced a sumptuous finish, lifting the ball calmly over Taylor.
Robert Pires then secured the three points with a simple strike after Bergkamp again turned provider to register the 500th league goal of Wenger’s tenure
Clichy: "When I look back at being part of that starting XI, I am grateful for how lucky I was to be on that teamsheet with probably eight or nine of the best players in their position."
“One game that always sticks in my mum’s and my memories was our win at Birmingham. It was Bergkamp at his majestic best. For me he is the greatest ever to wear the red and white.”
- Lois Langton, supporter
GAME 14 • NOVEMBER 30, 2003
ARSENAL 0
fulham 0
We slipped to second spot in the Premier League thanks to this goalless draw with Fulham at Highbury, as Chelsea took possession of the all-important top spot.
It would be easy to put this disappointing result down to complacency after beating Inter Milan 5-1 in the San Siro in midweek, but the primary reason was the excellence of the Cottagers' giant goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
The Netherlands international stopper made a string of fine saves in the first half as we dominated. Wenger's side continued to pick the Fulham lock after the break but arguably the clearest opportunity came to Steed Malbranque midway through the second period, but fortunately he nodded an inviting cross wide of Jens Lehmann's upright with the goal at his mercy.
Lehmann: "I was consistent and made saves when I had to. I can’t say there was one game where I made a lot of saves or saved us – because we weren’t outplayed that season!"
GAME 15 • DECEMBER 6, 2003
LEICESTER CITY 1
ARSENAL 1
Craig Hignett scored with virtually the last kick of the game to deny us victory at Leicester, after Gilberto had put us in front on the hour mark.
Dennis Bergkamp found space on the left flank and clipped over a cross to the far post where the Brazilian planted a firm header high into the net, and the pair combined again to force Ian Walker into an excellent save from a Gilberto volley.
The game turned in the 72nd minute when Ashley Cole was dismissed for a challenge on Ben Thatcher, and just when you thought Arsène Wenger's side had secured a win to go back to the top, in injury-time James Scowcroft nodded it down a long punt into the box and Hignett popped up to tap past Jens Lehmann.
Gilberto: "For me, preparation was everything. I knew when I got onto the field, I had to be up and ready to face any opponent. I had to be sharp."
GAME 16 • DECEMBER 14, 2003
arsenal 1
BLACKBURN ROVERS 0
We made hard work of beating an industrious Blackburn side, yet still came away with the three points that elevated us above Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.
Arsène Wenger’s team were lucky not to fall behind in the time it took some supporters to find their seats when Dwight Yorke prodded wide from just inside the box, and the travelling Lancastrians were made to rue that miss when on 11 minutes a run from Kolo Toure saw him cut the ball back to Dennis Bergkamp to slot home with characteristic panache.
The second half saw the visitors push forward, their attacks orchestrated by the Turkish midfielder Tugay, in search of an equaliser, however our defence, and Toure in particular, were imperious.
Toure: "Every week I gave my best so I could stay in the team. I always had the feeling that every single time I played, I had to prove to the manager I was able to do it."
GAME 17 • DECEMBER 20, 2003
BOLTON WANDERERS 1
ARSENAL 1
Substitute Henrik Pedersen crashed home a half-volley with seven minutes remaining to deny us victory at the Reebok Stadium.
Sam Allardyce's side held the upper hand in the first half and Jens Lehmann saved well to deny Kevin Nolan, but we scored while on top in the 57th minute. Freddie Ljungberg got away a shot which was saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen, but Robert Pires was on hand to convert the rebound.
Few could deny Bolton deserved their point who enjoyed long periods of pressure, and just when it seemed we had stolen a draw, Pascal Cygan's clearing header fell to Pedersen on the edge of the area and the Trotters striker drilled a shot into the top corner to earn a share of the spoils.
Parlour: "We drew 12 times because we managed to squeeze a draw when we should have lost. That was because of how strong the squad and the bench was."
GAME 18 • DECEMBER 26, 2003
ARSENAL 3
WOLVES 0
Arsène Wenger wanted three points for Christmas and his wish was granted as we beat Wolves in a game that emphasised the gulf in class between the top and bottom of the Premier League.
Scrooge-like defending was the order of the day but poor Jody Craddock was more Santa than Ebeneezer as he played a crucial role in our first two goals. 13 minutes in, Thierry Henry curled in a dangerous corner and Patrick Vieira's faint touch was helped over the line by the Wolves man.
Seven minutes later Vieira caught Craddock in possession and raced in on goal. The captain cut inside the hapless defender and set up Henry, who made no mistake from 10 yards. That was effectively game over but the home fans were treated to another Henry special when he jinked past his marker and slammed a shot into the corner in the final minute.
Pires: "At that time Thierry was the best striker in Europe."
“I remember telling my two sons at the time: ‘Enjoy every minute of these games because you may not see another season like this for quite a while.’”
- David Miles, former club secretary
GAME 19 • DECEMBER 29, 2003
SOUTHAMPTON 0
ARSENAL 1
We started 2004 one point behind leaders Manchester United after grinding out a hard-fought victory at Southampton. Robert Pires grabbed the all-important goal 10 minutes before the break from Thierry Henry's astute pass, but victory was no more than Arsène Wenger’s team deserved.
We were superior for long periods and, had Southampton keeper Antti Niemi not made a superb save from Freddie Ljungberg at the start of the second half, we would have cruised home.
Given that we had let in late equalisers at Leicester and Bolton in the last two away games, one hoped that we would hold on for the final 20 minutes. Henry did his best to put daylight between the two sides by driving across the edge of the area and thumping a shot wide, and Niemi then denied the French striker the goal he deserved with a low save nine minutes from the final whistle.
Cygan: "In that unbeaten season we had a feeling of strength. That translated into fear in the eyes of our opponents before we even entered the field."
GAME 20 • JANUARY 7, 2004
EVERTON 1
ARSENAL 1
We lost ground at the top of the Premier League after Everton snatched an equaliser 15 minutes from time at Goodison Park.
Nwankwo Kanu had put us ahead in the 29th minute, skipping past Nigel Martyn and tucking away a shot after Freddie Ljungberg's fine pass. After the first goal we pressed forward in search of that all-important second and Ljungberg went close as did Thierry Henry.
It failed to come though and Everton were rewarded late on for their persistence as they grabbed a share of the points. Arsenal loanee Francis Jeffers latched onto a miscue by Ashley Cole, and while Jens Lehmann saved the striker's drive, Tomasz Radzinski slid home the rebound and, in all honesty, it was difficult to begrudge the Toffees a draw.
Henry: "We were a collective. You can’t win anything without a Lauren, a Ray Parlour, an Ashley Cole, an Edu, Kanu, Sylvain – everyone."
ON A WINNING STREAK
2004 has started with us chasing Manchester United at the summit, with Chelsea seven points off the lead. Now was the time to find some momentum, and we certainly did that during an unstoppable sequence of nine straight victories, leaving our championship challengers in our dust as we seized the advantage in the title hunt.
GAME 21 • JANUARY 10, 2004
arsenal 4
MIDDLESBROUGH 1
Due to a series of cup draws, this was the first of four matches against Boro in January, and we won round one with a performance that knocked our opponents out cold.
After Jens Lehmann had produced a fine reflex save to deny Doriva, the deadlock was broken in the 38th minute when Patrick Vieira was hauled down in Mark Schwarzer's box, and Thierry Henry finished coolly. Seven minutes later Henry fired in a free-kick from 30 yards and Franck Queudrue sliced the ball into his own net to double our lead.
We started the second half as we had finished the first with Robert Pires slamming home after Gareth Southgate gifted him the ball, and Freddie Ljungberg completed a fine afternoon when he struck his 50th goal for the club. Massimo Maccarone scored a consolation penalty at the death, but by then it was too little, too late.
Bergkamp: "I think we played close to perfection in that period. The pace was unbelievably high - I believe in that area we could really compete with current football."
GAME 22 • JANUARY 18, 2004
ASTON VILLA 0
ARSENAL 2
We went top of the table thanks to a professional performance at one of the league’s in-form teams, and a little piece of cheekiness from Thierry Henry.
We were in control during the opening 45 minutes and Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen had produced a pair of saves to deny Robert Pires before Henry saw an opportunity and sidefooted home a free-kick in the 28th minute while Villa were still preparing their wall to catch them off-guard.
He would make the difference from a different dead-ball situation seven minutes into the second half. Olof Mellberg fouled Nwanwko Kanu in the area and our No. 14 fired home a second from the spot and we held on for a deserved three points.
Toure: "Winning was no choice for us. It was a habit. In any circumstance we wanted to win, and we’d do everything to make it happen."
GAME 23 • FEBRUARY 1, 2004
ARSENAL 2
MANCHESTER CITY 1
Before kick-off, the whole of Highbury - visiting supporters included - stood in unison to give a rousing reception to the recently retired David Seaman who strode out onto familiar turf one last time via a guard of honour.
Although never at our fluent best, we deserved the victory which matched George Graham's 1990/91 side who started that campaign by going 23 unbeaten. Visiting defender Michael Tarnat diverted Thierry Henry's cross into his own net six minutes before the break to give us the lead, while the Frenchman added a thunderbolt of his own seven minutes from time.
Former Gunner Nicolas Anelka did score from close range at the death but saw red straight afterwards as he clashed with Ashley Cole while trying to get the ball back, while new signing Jose Antonio Reyes debuted from the bench.
Henry: "If a team wanted to play against us, we could play. You wanted a fight, we could do that too."
“Since 2003/04, I cannot relax until all the other teams have lost a match. It now seems such a massive achievement being the only Invincibles.”
- Jill Smith, supporter
GAME 24 • FEBRUARY 7, 2004
WOLVES 1
ARSENAL 3
We ground out a deserved victory at Molineux, breaking our club record in the process by going 24 games unbeaten from the start of a season as we continued to apply pressure on our title rivals.
Given that Wolves were unbeaten in their last eight league games at home, this result sent out a clear message that matters were in hand. Dennis Bergkamp fired us ahead in the ninth minute but Vio Ganea equalised midway through the half and, at the break, this was an even-money contest.
But we raised our game after the restart and by the 63rd minute had taken the game away from Wolves. An inch-perfect Robert Pires pass allowed Thierry Henry to tuck the ball into the bottom corner, and then Kolo Toure was perfectly placed to nod in from close range after Patrick Vieira had kept the ball in play.
Campbell: "I was so happy to create that football relationship with Kolo. He was young and vibrant, so keen to learn, and I loved sharing that journey with him."
GAME 25 • FEBRUARY 10, 2004
ARSENAL 2
SOUTHAMPTON 0
Thierry Henry's 100th and 101st Premier League goals were enough to see off Southampton at Highbury and send Arsène Wenger's side five points clear at the top.
For our first goal, Henry ran onto a pass from compatriot Robert Pires in the 31st minute to steer home. At the time the lead was a little flattering; the Saints had their fair share of the play in a nip-and-tuck first half.
The opening 45 saw Southampton match us but we were better after the interval. This was a performance all about grit and determination - mixed with a little of Henry's special brand of flair. He added another at the death as the home side were playing out time when he took his time to pick his spot and lashed the ball into the top corner to ensure our lead at the top grew.
Bergkamp: "At that part of my career I was happy to just play the backing vocals for Thierry! My role was to gel with the midfielders and then provide King Thierry!"
GAME 26 • FEBRUARY 21, 2004
CHELSEA 1
ARSENAL 2
Arsène Wenger’s side came from behind to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, six days after his team had done the same thing at Highbury in the FA Cup fifth round, and this controlled, crafted win meant that we climbed seven points clear.
That seemed unlikely when Eidur Gudjohnsen put Chelsea into the lead after only 27 seconds. But, like the week before, we responded with two quick goals. Patrick Vieira slotted home from Dennis Bergkamp’s clever pass in the 15th minute, and then six minutes later Edu hooked in after Neil Sullivan flapped at Thierry Henry’s corner.
The Blues threatened straight after the interval but, when Gudjohnsen was dismissed for a second yellow card, their challenge petered away. Gilberto had two fine chances to finish but we had matters under control by the end on what proved to be an important day in the title race.
Lauren: "When I stepped on the pitch, I was like a different person. I loved to be under pressure. I loved to see the expectation. This was my habitat and it’s where I came alive."
“I started to believe we could do it when we won at Chelsea. The team played so well it convinced me that this was to be our year.”
- Anthony Joy, Arsenal Disabled Supporters Association
GAME 27 • FEBRUARY 28, 2004
ARSENAL 2
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 1
Our lead grew to nine points after this narrow victory over Charlton, despite scoring both our goals in the opening four minutes.
Not even 100 seconds had elapsed before Robert Pires was celebrating his 50th Arsenal goal when he tapped home from a couple of yards out after Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry linked up, and then Henry got in on the act when Patrick Vieira’s pinpoint pass allowed him to shoot beyond Dean Kiely as we threatened to run riot.
However Charlton came into this game in the top five, and replied just before the hour when Claus Jensen's free-kick kissed a post on its way past a helpless Jens Lehmann. That set up a tense finale and in injury time Jonathan Johansson’s overhead kick cracked against the woodwork, but we hung on to hit 300 days since our last league defeat.
Pires: "I reached my best football while I was at Arsenal. I had very good players around me, and I found it interesting to play with Dennis, with Kanu, with Freddie."
GAME 28 • MARCH 13, 2004
BLACKBURN ROVERS 0
ARSENAL 2
Goals courtesy of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires left us nine points clear at the top of the table with 10 games left.
In the 26th minute Henry thought he had scored the game's first goal when he knocked the ball away from Brad Friedel and into the goal while the Rovers keeper was getting ready to kick clear, but it was disallowed. However, he wouldn’t be denied for much longer.
Ten minutes into the second half, Ashley Cole fed Henry as he galloped through. The striker was bundled over by Craig Short just outside the area, and bent the subsequent free-kick into the net, a superb way to reach 30 goals for the season in all competitions. Three minutes from time we secured the win when Gilberto bobbled a shot against the post and it bounced out for Pires to wrap up the victory.
Campbell: "All I was thinking with five or 10 games to go was that anything could happen in the title race. I wasn’t thinking about records, I just wanted to win the league."
GAME 29 • MARCH 20, 2004
ARSENAL 2
BOLTON WANDERERS 1
Exquisite finishes from Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp were enough to keep us nine points clear after another tense encounter with Bolton.
Thierry Henry almost gave us a sixth-minute lead when he clattered a fierce shot against the crossbar, but 15 minutes later Edu found Bergkamp on the edge of the box and the Dutchman laid the ball off for Pires who curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Our pressure was such that another goal soon arrived when Henry squared for Bergkamp and the Dutchman crashed home a first-time shot.
Five minutes before the break, Bolton reduced the deficit when Ivan Campo beat Jens Lehmann with a rising shot, and then Stelios Giannakopoulos headed against the bar as what looked being a rout suddenly looked less cut and dried, and so it proved in a tense second half that saw us dig deep and hold on.
Henry: "Dennis was first to arrive every day, wanting to be the best at every single aspect of the game. You thought: 'How can I step with him? He’s a God here.'"
The HISTORY MAKERS
With a couple of months to go, the Treble was a realistic prospect but a fixture pile-up contributed to our Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Chelsea, before Manchester United beat us in the FA Cup semis. That could have affected our league form during a run of games where we faced the other four best teams in the country consecutively, but our resilience came to the fore. A famous afternoon at White Hart Lane clinched the championship, leaving four final fixtures to navigate to seal a season like no other.
GAME 30 • MARCH 28, 2004
arsenal 1
MANCHESTER UNITED 1
We set a new record for the most consecutive unbeaten games from the start of a season, and virtually end Sir Alex Ferguson’s hopes of the championship.
Thierry Henry opened the scoring with a spectacular 30-yard drive soon after half-time but we were denied victory late on when Louis Saha slotted home at the far post with just four minutes left.
We had two chances to grab all three points in the closing stages of the game when Henry forced a reaction save from the excellent Roy Carroll from close range, before he picked out Lauren who had appeared in the Manchester United area. The full-back had the option to return the pass but instead saw his shot well saved.
Parlour: "When there were about eight games to go, that’s when it really hit us that we might have a chance of staying unbeaten."
GAME 31 • APRIL 9, 2004
ARSENAL 4
LIVERPOOL 2
Having been knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup going into this game, we showed plenty of courage to twice come from behind to Liverpool, with Thierry Henry hitting a hat-trick in the process.
Sami Hyypia's fifth-minute header gave the Reds the start they dreamt of but we responded admirably when Henry equalised in the 31st minute. Despite that, our defence still looked fragile and Steven Gerrard's inch-perfect through ball allowed Michael Owen to tuck away a shot five minutes before the break.
Robert Pires prodded us level once more four minutes after the restart and, seconds later, Henry picked up the ball close to the halfway line and dribbled his way past a number of defenders before side-footing past Jerzy Dudek. It was a strike which set Highbury alight, and for good measure Henry completed his treble with a fortuitous goal to ensure we overcame a huge hurdle on our way to immortality.
Henry: "I was empty. I didn’t think I could play; my hamstring was bothering me. But we were up against it, and I just said to myself: “Go for it. If I pull it, I pull it. So be it.'”
“I remember the few times we would concede first-half goals that year and chuckling at the other team: ‘You shouldn’t have done that.’”
- Jake Hapgood-Attridge, supporter
GAME 32 • APRIL 11, 2004
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
ARSENAL 0
48 hours after the win against Liverpool, our season took another step closer to a pleasing conclusion after we ground out a hard-fought draw at St James’ Park on Easter Sunday.
In what was incredibly our fourth game in nine days, Newcastle started with purpose and early on Craig Bellamy flicked the ball goalward which looked destined to trickle into the net, but Jens Lehmann stretched his athletic frame to divert the ball around the post.
Other than that, chances were few and far between. Sylvain Wiltord should have put us ahead in the dying seconds of the first half while Thierry Henry hit a shot against the post midway through the second, and then Kolo Toure flashed a header wide from a corner in injury time as we nearly stole another couple of points, but nevertheless remained unbeaten.
Wenger: "People spoke a lot about the exceptional defence - Ashley Cole, Lauren, Kolo and Sol Campbell – but it was very cheap. Even with Jens included, they cost less than £10 million."
GAME 33 • APRIL 16, 2004
ARSENAL 5
LEEDS UNITED 0
We put on an awesome display with Thierry Henry producing four goals of the very best during an electrifying display, as we moved one stylish step closer to the Premier League title.
In the sixth minute, the rout began. Dennis Bergkamp put Robert Pires clear and the midfielder took the ball in his stride and hit a swerving shot past the desperate dive of Leeds keeper Paul Robinson. Henry scored his first on 27 minutes following a superb through-ball from Gilberto, and then three minutes later he clipped a spot-kick over Robinson when Leeds were penalised for handball.
The Frenchman’s second hat-trick in three matches came five minutes after the restart when Wiltord put him through to race clear and guide another shot into the net, and his 38th of the campaign saw our talisman yet again use his pace to outstrip the beleaguered defence and slot home another classic Henry goal.
Lauren: "In the tunnel before games I used to be at the back, and I could see the faces of the opponents. You could see they were scared."
GAME 34 • APRIL 25, 2004
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2
ARSENAL 2
A draw at White Hart Lane was good enough for us to win the Premier League title, continue our undefeated season and spark wild post-match celebrations as we clinched the championship at the home of our biggest rivals.
After Patrick Vieira had slid us ahead after only three minutes, the silverware was never in doubt. Thierry Henry gathered a Spurs corner, sprinted upfield and found Dennis Bergkamp, who delivered a perfect cross for the onrushing captain to convert. Then on 35 minutes, the away contingent were boisterous again when Robert Pires met a Vieira delivery to complete a wonderful 12-pass move.
Tottenham got back into the game when Jamie Redknapp's shot from 25 yards flew into the net, and in the dying seconds an incident between Jens Lehmann and Robbie Keane led the Irishman striking home the equaliser from the penalty spot with the final kick of the game. But the final whistle meant the championship party could officially start.
Vieira: "To have the chance to win the title, at the home of Tottenham? There can be no better sweetness! It was a chance that we had to take."
Henry: "That day will stay in our history forever. It’s a great day, it’s a great story."
Campbell: "It’s amazing that it happened like that. Football works in a strange way, doesn’t it? It’s like it’s been written by a novelist, it’s so romantic."
Edu: "We decided to go back out to the pitch. I ran out and said ‘where is everybody!?’ Apart from our fans in the corner, the stadium was completely empty."
Parlour: "The stewards told us we couldn’t celebrate. We were like: 'we celebrate when we just win a game here, we’re definitely celebrating winning the title!'”
“That match is my standout memory of the season. As the players lined up in the tunnel, the chant of “We’re gonna win the league and now you’re gonna believe us” was spine-tingling.”
- Tim Stillman, journalist and supporter
GAME 35 • MAY 1, 2004
arsenal 0
BIRMINGHAM CITY 0
We edged closer to remaining unbeaten with a goalless draw against Birmingham. Following the title-winning celebrations, Arsène Wenger's side found it hard to lift themselves for this lunchtime kick-off, and while they knocked the ball with the confidence of champions, we never really threatened the Blues.
Our only chances of the game fell to the lively Jose Antonio Reyes who flashed a volley wide in the first half after a Dennis Bergkamp cross, and Thierry Henry who nearly squeezed home a quickly-taken free-kick just before the hour.
Birmingham had their chances too with Stephen Clemence testing Jens Lehmann with a low skidding shot, but in the end the biggest cheer of the day came when Martin Keown came on in the last minute, replacing Bergkamp, to play in his seventh game of the season as he remained in contention for a Premier League medal.
Pires: "Two days after the Tottenham game, Wenger said: 'It’s not finished. I want to win it unbeaten.'”
GAME 36 • MAY 4, 2004
PORTSMOUTH 1
ARSENAL 1
A captivating draw at Fratton Park saw us remain undefeated with just two games to go, but we had to do it the hard way after coming from behind when Yakubu fired the hosts ahead on the half-hour.
That meant our unbeaten record was under threat, but fears were allayed soon after the break thanks to a well-taken Jose Antonio Reyes goal. Thierry Henry’s cross was headed out to the edge of the box and the young striker lashed a left-footed shot into the bottom corner past Shaka Hislop to register his first Premier League strike.
Either team could have snatched a winner and the Spaniard later fired a gilt-edged chance over the bar before Lehmann made fine saves to deny Yakubu and Dejan Stefanovic with minutes to spare. In the end, a draw was probably a fair result, and Portsmouth joined Manchester United as the only teams that prevented us from beating them in the league in 2003/04.
Parlour: "We got absolutely battered at Portsmouth. How we got a draw there I’ll never know. They could have won 5-1 but Jens had a great game."
GAME 37 • MAY 9, 2004
FULHAM 0
ARSENAL 1
We were just 90 minutes away from completing an unbeaten Premier League season after a hard-fought win against Fulham, thanks to Jose Antonio Reyes capitalising on an Edwin van der Sar error to hand us an early lead
Before Reyes' goal, Freddie Ljungberg had a chance within two minutes to open the scoring but the energetic Swede failed to capitalise. Fulham went on to have plenty of possession but, in truth, they rarely tested Jens Lehmann, with former Gunner Moritz Volz coming closest when he fired inches past the far post.
We came close to a second later on when Junichi Inamoto, another ex-Arsenal player, skewed the ball towards his own goal but van der Sar saved his blushes, while at the other end Lehmann saved with his legs to deny a third old boy in Luis Boa Morte and returned us to winning ways.
Edu: "We had already won the league, but after that we had a huge challenge to keep our minds strong and not lose that run. I remember it being really difficult to keep going."
GAME 38 • MAY 15, 2004
ARSENAL 2
LEICESTER CITY 1
The Invincibles were crowned after beating Leicester City, but the already-relegated Foxes were no pushovers. Paul Dickov threatened to spoil our party by scoring in the 25th minute when the ex-Gunner headed past an outstretched Jens Lehmann.
We went into the interval behind and the unbeaten record in the balance, but the players came out for the second half with a renewed vigour and equalised within two minutes of the restart. Ashley Cole was bundled over in the area by Frank Sinclair and Thierry Henry restored parity with a well-taken penalty
From then on, all Gooners could relax a little, and 20 minutes later Patrick Vieira put us into the lead as well the record books, converting an exquisite Dennis Bergkamp pass. At the final whistle, Highbury erupted to the tune of "we are unbeatable" as our captain hoisted the Premier League trophy high into the sky to put the cap on a campaign like no other.
Pires: "We were losing and I remember how upset Arsène was in the dressing room. He was shouting, using bad words, and for him that was not usual. But he changed our mentality."
Lauren: "When the referee blew the final whistle, I felt a big relief, but then you look all around you and you see everybody was sharing a huge happiness."
Clichy: "I was walking in front of the fans holding the trophy. Ten months earlier I was with Cannes in the third division."
Campbell: "At the final whistle, sitting on the pitch at the end, I felt this incredible completeness flushing through my body."
Vieira: "It’s an unbelievable achievement, and we are all very proud to have been a part of it."
The Invincibles
The class of 2003/04’s achievements guarantee them a place in our history forever.
20 players won medals for playing at least 10 Premier League games that campaign, and at the end of the season Arsène Wenger gave his verdict on their efforts throughout the season.
Jens Lehmann
38 GAMES | 0 GOALS
"He is a winner, a very hard worker and he's never in the comfort zone. I rate him and his attitude very highly. There have obviously been occasions when he makes mistakes but that happens to every player in every position, it just gets highlighted more when it's a goalkeeper. What's important is that he makes less mistakes than the others."
Ashley Cole
32 GAMES | 0 GOALS
"Ashley has a great determination, again on the last day of the season when we found ourselves a goal down, he got forward to win the penalty. In my opinion, this has been his best ever season, his most complete. He has matured very well mentally too. He has developed in every area, and I'm very happy with his performances this year."
Lauren
32 GAMES | 0 GOALS
"Lauren had one period when he was slightly off his game, but overall I think it's been his best year. He looks a lot happier and has settled well into English football. Look at his record since he joined us, that tells you a lot. He has been great, and the other players voted for him in their team of the year, which is fantastic because normally he isn't talked about much."
Gael Clichy
12 GAMES | 0 GOALS
"I would say that he is the new Ashley Cole. He is mobile, quick, sharp, and good going forward. Look at the big games he has played already for us - it's just amazing. I'm very happy for him because I took a big gamble to bring him over here. There are good players all over the world, and when you travel you can find them."
Sol Campbell
35 GAMES | 1 GOAL
"Sol has been absolutely tremendous. He is security guaranteed at the back and when he is in the team you know we always have the chance to be solid and to win the game. When the spine of the team is right, you have a good team and we've shown that this year. Sol is just coming to the best two or three years of his career as well. He is peaking."
Kolo Toure
37 games | 1 goal
"The revelation of the season. What an impressive season he's had at the centre of the defence. Consistent, highly motivated, always up for it. For his first full season in the team, it's been an absolutely tremendous achievement. It's always more difficult to confirm your talent in the second season and that's his aim. I'm confident because he has the qualities."
Pascal Cygan
18 games | 0 goals
"When Lauren was out he played 10 games on the trot in the centre of defence, and 10 faultless games. I rate him highly, all the staff here do, and he has contributed a lot. He hasn't had the credit he deserves. There's a lot of competition at the back but we need Pascal and he's settled in England now. I expect him to come back very motivated."
Martin Keown
10 GAMES | 0 GOALS
"I will be very sad to lose Martin because of what he has done on and off the pitch for us. He is invaluable - he is a guarantee of the spirit of the club. He was professional from the first moment I arrived, and had you seen him in the last minute of his last training session with us, giving everything, then you will know what type of player he has been for us."
Patrick Vieira
29 games | 3 goals
"When you win something, then your leader has to take the credit. He leads the team on the pitch, and he also performed his job very well in the dressing room this season. That part of his character has improved greatly. I'm pleased that he scored important goals at White Hart Lane and to beat Leicester - again that's evidence of taking responsibility."
Edu
30 games | 2 goals
"Edu has just enjoyed his best season by miles, one of the revelations for us. He is now competitive for that midfield spot and forms great partnerships with all of the players. He's an intelligent player, great technically and is ready for the fight as well. He has come to the level where I expected him to be when I saw him in Brazil."
Gilberto Silva
32 games | 4 goals
"An important part of our team, and he has a great spirit. My statistics tell me that he covered the most distance on the pitch of any of the players here this season. He is quick to move from defence to attack and back, so he gives our team a nice balance. He makes the game look very simple, and that's a very important quality when you play in the middle of the park."
Freddie Ljungberg
30 GAMES | 4 GOALS
"Freddie has been handicapped by small injuries. Every time he came to near his best, he picked up a small injury. But overall Freddie is a winner, and a big game player. What matters most to him is winning and he's a competitive boy. He got a higher number of assists than you would imagine as well. I still feel there is more in him."
Robert Pires
36 games | 14 goals
"Robert has scored an incredible number of goals. It's been his best season by far. l think all over the world he is underrated, he hasn't got the credit I think he deserves. I don't know why that is because he has everything you need to be a star in football. Ask any goalkeeper and they will tell you the same - his finishing is tremendous, as good as any striker."
Ray Parlour
25 games | 0 goals
"The team really missed Ray when he was injured. You know you always get a great level from Ray, and I know I can depend on him. I think he has improved his vision a lot and has become a good passer of the ball. We have a lot of competition in midfield, but all of them are capable of coming in. He has contributed highly and has the respect of the whole team."
Thierry Henry
37 games | 30 goals
"He grows every year and my target now is to get more out of him. That's his job in the coming years, and mine too. You can always improve, it's down to your attitude, and I know that this guy will never be happy with what he has, he will always try to get more. You want your players to have belief and also a target to aim for, and that will make him stronger."
Dennis Bergkamp
28 games | 4 goals
"His overall contribution has been fantastic and physically his performances have been higher. The big problem for us will be when Dennis stops, so that's why I'm so happy he's here for another year. I still think he can produce at the top level because of his brilliance. I don't think there's another player in the world of Dennis' age playing at the level he is."
Jose Antonio Reyes
13 games | 2 goals
"I bought him in January to adapt to the league and be ready to start again next season. I think we'll see the real Reyes. What he has shown so far has just whetted the appetite. The fans have taken to him already because he is quick, sharp and has a good football brain. I'm sure we'll see even more from him next season."
Sylvain Wiltord
12 games | 3 goals
"Sylvain made a great start, but then was hampered by his ankle and we didn't see the best of him after that. I rate Sylvain highly but he never came back to his best after those first few months. It was his last season at Highbury and I have some great memories of his time here. I respect his love for the game and he's another one I think is underrated."
Nwankwo Kanu
10 games | 1 goal
"When you have him on the pitch you know there is someone there who can do something. He didn't get the number of appearances he deserved, because his attitude has been absolutely spot-on in training. He was involved regularly before going to the Africa Cup of Nations, but he paid a heavy price for going there because he couldn't get back in the team."
Jeremie Aliadiere
10 games | 0 goals
"This year we had a good contribution from him, in the previous years he has been either too young or injured. I'm sure he will push on more next season. I'm never afraid to put him in the starting line-up, I played him against Liverpool at Anfield, against Manchester United and also Middlesbrough, so I'm not afraid when he's fit."
TALES FROM THE INVINCIBLES
Robert Pires on his goalscoring season like no other
The iconic winger discusses his 19-goal haul in our Invincibles campaign and the key moments within it
Patrick Vieira on the feeling of skippering a special side
Our legendary former midfielder reflects on what it was like to be in charge of our Invincibles during the 2003/04 season
Jens Lehmann on football's smell and sauna mishaps!
The German shot-stopper looks back fondly on some of the key moments of his first year at the club
Ray Parlour on ending his Arsenal career on a high
The Romford Pele discusses his swansong and what he told Arsene Wenger to do for his predecessor Cesc Fabregas
Dennis Bergkamp on being King Henry's backing band
Our club legend reflects on the Invincibles campaign, and discusses why he opted to shelve retirement plans at the end of it
Sol Campbell on winning the league at The Lane
The iconic winger discusses his 19-goal haul in our Invincibles campaign and the key moments within it
Kolo Toure on breakthroughs, battles and backflips
The centre-back reflects on a campaign where he made his name, which was etched in our history for decades to come
Pascal Cygan on his key contribution to the Invincibles
The Frenchman looks back at the part he played in our undefeated campaign, and his fondness of his time in N5
Thierry Henry on goals, glory and the power of our cannon
Our all-time record scorer reflects on a season where he was regarded as the best in the world and fired us to immortality
Edu on how to he tries to keep the Invincible spirit alive
The Brazilian midfielder is back in north London as our Sporting Director, aiming to replicate the success he enjoyed 20 years ago
Gael Clichy on teenage dreams and Ashley Cole's tutelage
Gael reflects on a crazy 10-month period that saw him swap the French third tier for the excitement of an English title race
Jeremie Aliadiere on being called the Invincibles' "Young One"
The French striker looks back on a campaign that saw him break into our first-team squad despite being 20 years old
Martin Keown on saying farewell to Highbury with a flourish
Our legendary defender looks back at his final season in red and white, as the curtain came down in style
Lauren on the lucky charm that helped the Invincibles
The full-back on his bitterness at being fined for his part in the Battle of Old Trafford and the superstition that he kept up all campaign
Gilberto on being our Invisible Wall throughout the season
The Brazilian discusses his role in our team, the lasting friendships within the squad, and the impact the Invincibles had in Brazil
Graham Stack on the important role he played without playing
Our reserve keeper gives a unique take on life as an Invincible and his role in getting the best out of Jens Lehmann
sTATS
We didn’t trail by more than a single goal in any game during 2003/04 – this has only happened four times throughout an entire Premier League campaign.
Jens Lehmann was the only player not to miss a single minute in our 38 games, and he would remain unbeaten in his first 47 matches, setting a record for the longest unbeaten start to a player's Premier League career.
14 of our 26 wins came by a single-goal margin, at the time the most by a title winner in a 38-game season.
Thierry Henry became the first Arsenal player to net 30+ goals in a top-flight campaign since Ronnie Rooke in 1947/48.
Sol Campbell’s 36 appearances in 2003/04 came in the middle of his record-setting run of 56 without defeat, a Premier League record.
Built with Shorthand
Built with Shorthand
