[62] In a 2011 interview, Wenger recalled Yaya's performance as being "completely average on the day" and noted his impatience stopped him from joining Arsenal; Touré went on to play for Barcelona before joining Manchester City in 2010. Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. With two decades of wisdom at the helm of Arsenal FC, this is a wonderful celebration of his most legendary quotations in small, but perfectly formed short poems. Sacre Bleu: Zidane to Mbappé A football journey [110] Wenger said afterwards: "It looked like Ashley wanted to get the ball but it was a two-footed tackle that was too high, it was a red card and we have to accept it. Condition of shirt - Excellent. The book also focuses on the club's revolutionary founding fathers, David Danskin and Jack Humble, the terrifying '20s 'soccer Tsar' Sir Henry Norris and David Dein's controversial introduction of free-market economics to Highbury in the ... Size - 3XL (XXXL) (50-52"). “Very close. Arsene Wenger claims that Arsenal could have signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003 if they were 'just a fraction quicker' before Manchester United pipped them. Packed with lively comment on so many of the questions that football fans love to argue about, this book is full of the one thing that all football supporters can relate to: passion. Other teams may win championships, other teams may score fantastic goals too – but none have a golden trophy like the one handed to Arsene Wenger and his literally unbeatable players. [193] Wenger said afterwards: "We can complain and cry the whole night but that will not change the result. As a player, Vieira was best known at club level for his nine seasons with Arsenal under Arsene Wenger from 1996-2005. So Paddy Got Up: An Arsenal anthology Arsenal won … "[14], "Somebody threw me a T-shirt after the trophy was presented which read 'Comical Wenger says we can go the whole season unbeaten.' They are as good as a team as we have played. Also, Micah Richards has said on Sky Sports Premier League (1:34pm, November 21, 2021) that he was not sure about Aaron Ramsdale when Arsenal signed him from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021. Wikipedia - Page 1710 [149] The striker completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute, after good work by Bergkamp. Although the war delayed the start of his league career, Tom Finney burst on the scene when normality resumed and within a few weeks of his league debut he was lining up for England for the first time - and scoring. Things could have been so different though. ARSENAL's winning streak is over after a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool. "[194] The team, without Campbell and Vieira, earned a draw away to Lokomotiv Moscow, but remained bottom of the group. "[190], Arsenal were drawn in Group B, along with Italian club Inter Milan, Lokomotiv Moscow of Russia and Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv. The Chelsea U17s was coached by a key member of the Arsenal Invincibles team of the 2003-2004 season, Ashley Cole. With three minutes remaining of the match, defender Wayne Bridge scored to eliminate Arsenal from the competition.[205]. [25] Striker Francis Jeffers, who found opportunities limited in the first team, joined his former club Everton on a season-long loan. [19] By March 2003, Arsenal had established themselves as league leaders, but nearest challenger Manchester United overhauled them to win the title. For more information about the Arsenal team that went unbeaten in the league from May 2003 to October 2004, see. We certainly were not as fit as Manchester United and know many of our players were behind them fitness-wise. 34 different players represented the club in five competitions and there were 15 different goalscorers. Arsenal are one of English football’s most famous and successful clubs and are synonymous with the Arsene Wenger era which brought multiple Premier League and FA Cup Trophies, including the famous Invincibles season where the club went through the entire Premier League season unbeaten. "[135] Arsenal then played Bolton Wanderers at home; Wenger made one change from the previous match – Bergkamp replaced Reyes upfront. Arsenal participated in the match as a result of their FA Cup win in 2002–03, while Manchester United were the league champions. Richards said: “Ramsdale, I wasn’t too sure about him. In football, "The Invincibles" is a nickname used to refer to the Preston North End team of the 1888–89 season, managed by William Sudell, and the Arsenal team of the 2003–04 season managed by Arsène Wenger. "[65], Arsenal recorded their first win of the pre-season against Austria Wien. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). Found inside... from being a member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles', to World Cup victory with France in 1998. ... No longer are you signed to a playing contract with a club, and you soon realise that you have more free time despite still being young ... Premier League", "English Premier League table, 31-08-2003", "Vieira back for Arsenal after injury 'nightmare, "English Premier League table, 05-10-2003", "English Premier League table, 20-10-2003", "Mixed-up Chelsea crumble in the face of Arsenal unity", "English Premier League table, 26-10-2003", "Match Report – Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur", "English Premier League table, 09-11-2003", "Van der Sar puts brake on Arsenal juggernaut", "English Premier League table, 29-12-2003", "Henry's speed of thought catches Villa cold", "English Premier League table, 19-01-2004", "Anelka spoils the portrait of Arsenal's three ages", "They break records, they win games. Arsenal It speaks volumes to the reputation Ronaldo already had at the age of just 18, entering his first season in England after signing from Sporting CP for £12.24million. It wouldn't surprise me if we were to go unbeaten for the whole of the season. [101] The result put Arsenal four points clear in first, albeit temporarily as Chelsea's win at home to Newcastle United 24 hours later cut their gap to one point. The 72-year-old was also in charge of the Gunners when they went a whole season unbeaten and earned the nickname 'The Invincibles' in 2004. As Campbell was suspended, Martin Keown came into the first team to partner Touré. Arsenal were also strong on the counter-attack, exemplified in their away performances against Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur. A cross by Wiltord was flicked on by Henry in the direction of an incoming Cole, who dived to head the ball past goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. Vieira signed a contract until 2024 as the replacement for Roy Hodgson, who stepped down at the end of last season after four years in charge of the south London club. Arsenal [187] Wenger opined of the result: "I don't think we deserved to lose; even when we were down to 10 men we were running the game. The financial constraints that came with the Ashburton Grove stadium project meant Wenger had little income to spend on new players. Arsène Wenger Haiku The team played in a 4–4–2 formation throughout the season, with two wide midfielders. [30], nickname applied to successful football teams, This article is about the unbeaten seasons of Preston North End and Arsenal in England. Arsenal Facts About Association Football - History Timeline - Page 36 [83] With the score 0–0, United were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute, but Van Nistelrooy's spot kick hit the bar and rebounded back into play. [150] On a night where Henry scored four goals and was described by his manager as "the best striker in the world", Arsenal moved to within two wins of regaining the league title. In football, "The Invincibles" is a nickname used to refer to the Preston North End team of the 1888–89 season, managed by William Sudell, and the Arsenal team of the 2003–04 season managed by Arsène Wenger. It began on 1 July 2003 and concluded on 30 June 2004, with competitive matches played between August and May. [35][36], To prepare for the forthcoming season, Arsenal played a series of friendlies across Western Europe. Bergkamp scored the only goal of the match in the second half. “At that time it was [Cristiano] Ronaldo,” Wenger told talkSPORT at the premiere of a new film ‘Arsene Wenger: Invincible’ which charts the journey of his team’s remarkable campaign. [114] The win meant Arsenal had gone half the season without losing and the team according to The Times had begun to "establish an aura of invincibility". Aaron Ramsey left Arsenal after 11 years and three FA Cups, but how did the others they signed alongside him fare?. Aaron Ramsey left Arsenal after 11 years and three FA Cups, but how did the others they signed alongside him fare?. The average prediction of writers Richard Williams, Kevin McCarra, Michael Walker, Daniel Taylor, Dominic Fifield, Jon Brodkin and, Such was the difficulty of raising cash, Arsenal introduced a bond scheme in the summer of 2003. signed The (Almost) Invincibles! In assessing the team's achievement, Tim Rich of The Independent wrote: "Invincibles, they called the last team to go through a season unbeaten away from home, although it is a word which belongs far more to the Arsenal side of 2002 than it ever could to the Preston team of 1888â89. "[177][178] The winners of the League Cup in the 2003–04 season earnt entry into the UEFA Cup, unless they qualified for the UEFA Champions League through their league position. Arsenal were unable to take advantage of Marcel Desailly's dismissal in the second half, but Wenger felt his team were in a good position to progress: "Our main aim will be to win the game at Highbury and we know we can do that. [153] Tottenham replied in the second half by scoring twice – the equaliser a penalty – but it did not stop the Arsenal players celebrating at the final whistle "in front of their supporters' White Hart Lane enclave". "[155], In May, successive draws at home to Birmingham City and Portsmouth left Arsenal with 84 points from 36 games. Both goals in the one-all draw came in the second half; the match marked the return of Vieira after three months out with a knee problem. The 2003–04 season was the 106th in the history of Arsenal Football Club. [119] A week later Arsenal beat Aston Villa by two goals to nil; both of the team's goals were scored by Henry. Arsenal have been a top-flight football club for over 90 years, the longest streak in English football history. Is He All That?: Great Footballing Myths Shattered Condition details - Bright colours, badges are stitched, sponsor is great, minimal wear to upper reverse motif, nice material feel - near mint example. [219] In an otherwise positive reflection of Arsenal's season, Glenn Moore wrote for The Independent: "There may thus have been some truth in Arsène Wenger's declaration that Arsenal's achievement was a greater triumph than winning the Champions' League. [188][189] Arsenal had qualified for every Champions League season since 1998–99, but the club never progressed further than the quarter-final stage. 1 day ago. The centre-back signed from Lille in 2002 made 18 Premier League appearances in 03/04. [97] Arsenal's victory by four goals to one was identical to the scoreline in the corresponding fixture of last season. They're exactly the same. There were no changes to the team from the Charlton game; for Leeds, Pennant started against his parent club after being granted permission by Wenger. [90], A tightly-fought match against Chelsea at home was settled by a second half error by goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, which presented Henry with his seventh league goal in nine matches. [64] Wenger was absent with a stomach upset so assistant manager Pat Rice took charge of Arsenal against SC Ritzing on 22 July 2003; the team came from two goals down to draw their second consecutive friendly. Found insideThe Invincibles showed again why they are a great side as their football bordered on the impossibly quick at times and defended astutely. It's a fun insight in to what separated the team of 2003/04 from other Arsenal sides and offers a ... Arsene Wenger would love to have had Cristiano Ronaldo in his ‘Invincibles’ squad. The Englishman who played for Arsenal’s Invincibles but retired at 27. He was originally a central defender and, because we have kept a few clean sheets recently and he's played well, I thought we'd keep him there. Arsenal used a total of 34 players during the 2003–04 season and there were 15 different goalscorers. [5][6], The following season, Preston won their first league match to stretch their unbeaten league run to 23 games; in their second game they suffered their first-ever league defeat against Aston Villa, losing 5â3. Found inside – Page 429Rebels for the Cause: The Alternative History of Arsenal Football Club. Mainstream. pp. 38–41. ISBN 9781840189001. ... ”Arsenal the Invincibles” http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/ teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm. BBC Sport. The 2003–04 season was the 106th in the history of Arsenal Football Club. Arsenal invincibles [165][166], Arsenal entered the 2003–04 edition as holders of the cup. Derek Shaw, the chairman of Preston offered his congratulations as they equalled his club's record of completing a league season without defeat, set 115 years previously. [171] Joseph-Désiré Job equalised for the away team four minutes after,[171] but Ljungberg restored Arsenal's lead with a shot outside the penalty box and scored a second, direct from a corner. [156][157][158] Reyes scored the only goal of the match against Fulham; he profited from a mistake by goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar: "The Dutchman tried to go past the Arsenal forward, but instead gifted possession and with it the easiest of open goals. The unbeaten run came close to ending six matches into the campaign against Manchester United, as striker Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty in injury time; the match then ended 0â0. Arsenal's prolonged celebrations reflected the scale of this landmark and yet, when they reflect in the summer break, how many players will agree with Wenger?". Wenger made a host of changes: Cygan was recalled in central defence, which meant Touré was shifted onto the right and Lauren was dropped, while Parlour started in place of Gilberto in midfield. Preston North End became known as "The Invincibles" after they won the inaugural Football League competition in 1888â89, completing the season unbeaten in both the league and the FA Cup, so becoming the first team ever to achieve the "Double". Breaking AFC rumours & news now, 24/7. Although the Arsenal team were unsuccessful in cup competitions, their dominance in the league was regarded by many commentators as a standalone achievement. The right-back had to work his way back up through the Football League pyramid before helping Leeds United win … [121] After 22 games played, Arsenal were in first place, two points clear of Manchester United.[122]. [139] Henry gave Arsenal the lead, with a long range shot that swerved past goalkeeper Roy Carroll. The 2003–04 season was the 106th in the history of Arsenal Football Club. [184], In the fifth round, Arsenal travelled to The Hawthorns to play West Bromwich Albion. Invincibles content. [125] Wenger in his post-match press conference played down the record, and said of the unbeaten run: "You need a little bit of luck and mental qualities. [63] Arsenal undertook a tour in Austria, a year after crowd troubles forced their match in Eisenstadt to be abandoned. Invincibles content. [21] Once funding was found amidst the season, the club added to its roster, with José Antonio Reyes arriving in the winter transfer window. Invincibles Wenger's tenure at Arsenal has seen him use the competition to field younger and lesser known players, something he and Ferguson were initially criticised for in 1997. In December 2003, he was banned from all forms of competitive football for eight months. Arsenal Football Club Official Website: get the latest club news, highlights, fixtures and results. [173] Edu was singled out for praise by The Guardian correspondent Kevin McCarra, who enthused over the visitors' performance: "Arsenal echoed the Ajax philosophy as players swapped position and kept changing the point of attack before the mesmerised eyes of the opposition. The legendary Premier League manager oversaw the unparalleled unbeaten title-winning season in 2004 th… [29], Wenger at the start of the season prioritised regaining the league title: "I feel it is very important in our minds to do this and I know the hunger is strong to do it," and named Newcastle United and Liverpool, along with Manchester United and Chelsea, as Arsenal's main rivals for the Premier League. If Touré and Campbell stay fit, Arsenal should be more than capable of holding on to their seven-point advantage and in Gaël Clichy, they have a promising replacement for Ashley Cole. It was the latter forward who gave Arsenal the lead in injury time of the first half, but Frank Lampard equalised for Chelsea in the 51st minute. “I regret not signing him, we were very close” - Arsene ... [188] The growth of television rights saw the format rebranded in the 1990s to include a group stage and permit multiple entrants. Arsenal [33], The club's home strip remained unchanged from the previous season; a red jersey with white sleeves, shorts and socks. [83] In the 80th minute, Vieira was sent off for a second bookable offence; he attempted to kick out at striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, which was seen by referee Steve Bennett. [81] Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp complained about the penalty decision post-match and felt Pires "…was going to get a yellow card [for diving]. "[16] Defender Sol Campbell however believed the squad was "strong enough for the league and FA Cup", but doubted their chances of winning the UEFA Champions League. "Some people refuse to appreciate new Arsenal. [24] In May 2018, this gold trophy was presented to Arsene Wenger as a gift from Arsenal Football Club at Wenger's final home game as manager after 22 years. [75], Arsenal hosted Everton at Highbury on the opening weekend of the season. [148] Arsenal responded by scoring twice in a minute; Henry's second goal saw the player hold off Dietmar Hamann in midfield, weave through defender Jamie Carragher and place the ball past Jerzy Dudek. Scoring At Half-Time: Adventures On and Off the Pitch Geordie Armstrong: On the Wing The title-winning side is considered one of the greatest in English football history, however, there’s no such thing as perfection, with Wenger revealing to talkSPORT he would have loved the floppy-haired teenager to have been an ‘Invicible’. Caviar and Sausages: Arsenal in the Time of Wenger At the turn of the year, the team won nine league matches in a row to consolidate first position. The club ended the Premier League campaign as champions without a single defeat – a record of 26 wins and 12 draws. Arsenal Fever Pitch [3] Preston North End earned the nickname after completing an entire season undefeated in league and cup competition (27 games), while Arsenal were undefeated in the league (38 games) in a run that stretched to a record 49 games. Invincibles Day is a mark of what an astonishing achievement Arsenal pulled off in 2003/2004 – the greatest ever team in the history of English football. Their form did not continue into the domestic cups; Arsenal exited the semi-final stage of the Football League Cup and the FA Cup to eventual winners Middlesbrough and Manchester United, respectively. "[208] Henry was given the accolade of PFA Players' Player of the Year by his fellow peers and the FWA Footballer of the Year by football writers for the second consecutive season. Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Arsenal fans should be “ashamed” of the way Arsene Wenger was treated during his final years at the club. [221] The team eclipsed the league record of 42 matches without defeat (set by Nottingham Forest) against Blackburn Rovers and went seven more matches unbeaten until they lost – away to Manchester United in October 2004. Ronaldo went on to win seven of the 15 matches he played against Arsenal, scoring six goals, but he still made an impression on Wenger in his debut campaign, despite staying off of the scoresheet. [183] Fellow divisional opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers were defeated 5–1 by Arsenal in the fourth round; Vieira, absent through injury in September and October, made his first team return and played the full match. Arsenal won … This is the first attempt to tell the story of the 121-year-history of the Arsenal Football Club through the greatest and most iconic Arsenal photography ever published. Arsenal All 4-1: A Guidebook to an Historic Season Straight ... - Page 61 [25] In addition to their two wins at the end of the 2002â03 FA Premier League, Arsenal beat Middlesbrough in their second league game of 2004â05 to equal Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league matches unbeaten;[26] the feat was eclipsed with a win at home to Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal have played exciting attacking football throughout the season and finishing it unbeaten is a feat that may not be repeated for another 100 years. The legendary Premier League manager oversaw the unparalleled unbeaten title-winning season in 2004 th… Bergkamp passed the ball to Vieira, who cut it back for Pires to sidefoot. Invincibles [148] Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier likened Arsenal to a "wounded animal" after the match and believed Henry was "the man who made the difference … he set the tempo". Become a free digital member to get exclusive content. The 2003 edition of the FA Community Shield, an annual English football match, was contested between Manchester United and Arsenal at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on 10 August. There were also three squad members who did not make a first-team appearance in the campaign. [76] A trip to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough a week after ended in a 4–0 win; the first three goals, scored by Henry, Gilberto Silva and Sylvain Wiltord all came in the first half. [10][nb 2] Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein however was displeased, and quipped that Abramovich had "parked his Russian tanks on our lawn and is firing £50 notes at us",[12] Abramovich was said to have placed a bid for Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, which was turned down at once. In their next match, Arsenal defeated Newcastle United by three goals to two; the winner was a penalty scored by Henry. [90] Pires scored the winner in the second half, which maintained the team's lead at the top of the league table. Aliadière scored Arsenal's second goal of the match following Hoult's poor clearance. Found insideUnbeaten. Invincible. It's not wrong tosay putting this book together has beena huge task over thelast few months, but it wasn't hard work. Writing aboutthe best football team you've ever seen, that's as far from hardwork asitgets. "[198] Arsenal won 2–0 against Lokomotiv Moscow to top Group B. Jacob Lekgetho's dismissal in the eighth minute meant the visitors played the remainder of the match with ten men. [103], Arsenal did not play another game for a fortnight because of the international football break. Kolo Touré, signed as a right-back and defensive midfielder, was chosen to play in central defence alongside Sol Campbell after impressing during pre-season. [147], After two cup exits in the space of a week, Arsenal faced Liverpool on Good Friday at Highbury. Lehmann made his first competitive start for Arsenal and Touré continued to partner Campbell in central defence. [88][89] Aliadière was paired alongside Henry in attack. [128] Arsenal found themselves a goal down after 27 seconds, but responded with an equaliser in the 15th minute – Bergkamp's "delicately curving pass" found Vieira on the left side to shoot the ball past goalkeeper Neil Sullivan. Tottenham had not beaten their rivals since November 1999 and their last win at Highbury had come a decade previously. [137], The visit of Manchester United on 28 March 2004 provided a stern test for Arsenal; it was both clubs' first meeting since the fiasco at Old Trafford. [126] The victory moved Arsenal five points clear at the top, although they had played one more game than Manchester United.[127]. [68] Wenger was pleased with Touré's performance against Celtic and said: "He has quality. [105] They were then held by Fulham to a goalless draw who became the first team to deny Arsenal from scoring in 46 league matches at Highbury. [3] The club did, however, retain the FA Cup, with a 1–0 win against Southampton. Arsenal A 21-man brawl at Old Trafford, two points docked, captain Tony Adams behind bars and just one defeat all season... Arsenal's turbulent title triumph revisited 30 … Arsenal Arsenal [129] The winner came six minutes later: Sullivan misjudged a corner taken by Henry, which allowed Edu to shoot into an empty net. Invincibles Day is a mark of what an astonishing achievement Arsenal pulled off in 2003/2004 – the greatest ever team in the history of English football. *WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR* Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby's million-copy-selling, award-winnning football classic 'A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming' Independent ... [136] The blustery conditions forced the game to be delayed by 15 minutes, approximately the same amount of time it took Pires to score Arsenal's opener. [80], Due to international fixtures, Arsenal did not play another game for two weeks. [185], Arsenal exited the competition in the semi-finals against Middlesbrough. As a player, Vieira was best known at club level for his nine seasons with Arsenal under Arsene Wenger from 1996-2005.
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