Arsenal Invincibles: An Unforgettable Season

In 2003/04, the Gunners claimed a league crown having somehow avoided defeat for the entire season – hence earning the nickname, The Invincibles. The Premier League odds in August on that happening would have been substantial indeed.

Stingy at the back, imperious in midfield and with the joie de vivre of Thierry Henry up front, Arsenal recorded 26 wins, 12 draws and no losses to become only the second side to navigate an entire top-flight English league campaign undefeated. The first was Preston North End in 1889 who played significantly fewer matches.

Remarkably, as of December 2024, this remains the last time Arsenal lifted a Premier League trophy. Subsequent to their incredible achievement, several clubs have threatened to equal their feat but almost inevitably they have come unstuck. There is always a tricky away that trips them up, failing that a surprise loss at home.

To avoid defeat against 38 opponents, in rain, sun and snow, is no small thing.

In fact, Arsenal’s run lasted for much longer than a season, their dominant streak stretching to 17 months and 49 league games, a Premier League record.

Here though, we are focusing only on the 2003/04 season, giving it the recognition and attention it truly deserves.

It was a period that saw an extremely talented squad of players join an extremely exclusive club. And forever more they are now invincible.

Points Total

The Invincibles finished their nigh-on perfect campaign with 90 points, 11 ahead of their closest rival Chelsea and a hefty 30 ahead of Liverpool in fourth.

Their tally equates to 2.3 points per game.

Yet it must be said that Arsenal’s points total is perhaps the least impressive aspect to their title-winning season.

Four years earlier, Manchester United finished on 91 points. Indeed, it is a figure that has been surpassed eight times since.

The same goes for their +47 goal difference. On 18 occasions that has been bettered since the Premier League was founded.

As for the Gunners’ 73 goals scored, it is actually one of the lowest amounts posted by a champion in the competition’s three decades of existence.

What explains most of the above of course is the hard-earned 12 draws. Only once – in 1998/99 – has a title-winner drawn more games.

Results:

• Arsenal 2-1 Everton (15th August 2003)
• Middlesbrough 0-4 Arsenal (24th August 2003)
• Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa (27th August 2003)
• Manchester City 1-2 Arsenal (31st August 2003)
• Arsenal 1-1 Portsmouth (13th September 2003)
• Manchester United 0-0 Arsenal (21st September 2003)
• Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle United (26th September 2003)
• Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal (4th October 2003)
• Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (18th October 2003)
• Charlton Athletic 1-1 Arsenal (26th October 2003)
• Leeds United 1-4 Arsenal (1st November 2003)
• Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (8th November 2003)
• Birmingham City 0-3 Arsenal (22nd November 2003)
• Arsenal 0-0 Fulham (30th November 2003)
• Leicester City 1-1 Arsenal (6th December 2003)
• Arsenal 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (14th December 2003)
• Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Arsenal (20th December 2003)
• Arsenal 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (26th December 2003)
• Southampton 0-1 Arsenal (29th December 2003)
• Everton 1-1 Arsenal (7th January 2004)
• Arsenal 4-1 Middlesbrough (10th January 2004)
• Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal (18th January 2004)
• Arsenal 2-0 Manchester City (1st February 2004)
• Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 Arsenal (7th February 2004)
• Arsenal 2-0 Southampton (10th February 2004)
• Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal (21st February 2004)
• Arsenal 2-1 Charlton Athletic (28th February 2004)
• Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Arsenal (13th March 2004)
• Arsenal 2-1 Bolton Wanderers (20th March 2004)
• Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United (28th March 2004)
• Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool (9th April 2004)
• Newcastle United 0-0 Arsenal (11th April 2004)
• Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United (16th April 2004)
• Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Arsenal (25th April 2004)
• Arsenal 0-0 Birmingham City (1st May 2004)
• Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal (4th May 2004)
• Fulham 0-1 Arsenal (9th May 2004)
• Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City (15th May 2004)

Squad

A total of 22 players featured for the Arsenal Invincibles during their memorable season, with Jens Lehmann in nets the only ever-present.

The brackets denote substitute appearances.

• Jens Lehmann – 38 starts
• Thierry Henry – 37 starts
• Kolo Toure – 36 starts (1)
• Sol Campbell – 35 starts
• Robert Pires – 33 starts (3)
• Ashley Cole – 32 starts
• Lauren – 30 starts (2)
• Gilberto Silva – 29 starts (3)
• Patrick Vieira – 29 starts
• Freddie Ljungberg – 27 starts (3)
• Dennis Bergkamp – 21 starts (7)
• Ray Parlour – 16 starts (9)
• Edu – 13 starts (17)
• Pascal Cygan – 10 starts (8)
• Sylvain Wiltord – 8 starts (4)
• Jose Antonio Reyes – 7 starts (6)
• Gael Clichy – 7 starts (5)
• Martin Keown – 3 starts (7)
• Nwankwo Kanu – 3 starts (7)
• Jeremie Aliadiere – 3 starts (7)
• David Bentley – 1 start
• Justin Hoyte – (1)

Goals

The Arsenal Invincibles scored 73 goals across 2003/04, six more than Chelsea.

Presumably widely backed in the football betting going into the season, Thierry Henry finished as the team’s top goal-scorer with 30, an amount more than sufficient to secure the Golden Boot in the process. The French striker notched every 111 minutes and assisted six times for good measure.

Henry’s impressive haul equated to 41% of Arsenal’s overall league tally.

Some way behind was his team-mate and compatriot Robert Pires who fired 14, a commendable total for a winger.
Beyond this Gallic pair no other Arsenal player came close to reaching double figures, with 10 others chipping in with vital strikes as and when.

Goal Scorers

• Thierry Henry – 30
• Robert Pires – 14
• Dennis Bergkamp, Freddie Ljungberg, Gilberto Silva – 4
• Own goals – 4
• Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord – 3
• Jose Antonio Reyes, Edu – 2
• Sol Campbell, Nwankwo Kanu, Kolo Toure – 1

Season Scorelines

The Arsenal Invincibles recorded 13 different Premier League scorelines during their season-long streak. They are broken down as follows:

• 5-0 (one win)
• 4-2 (one win)
• 4-1 (two wins)
• 4-0 (one win)
• 3-2 (one win)
• 3-1 (one win)
• 3-0 (two wins)
• 2-2 (one draw)
• 2-1 (10 wins)
• 2-0 (four wins)
• 1-1 (seven draws)
• 1-0 (three wins)
• 0-0 (four draws)

For a club previously teased for eking out 1-0 victories it’s notable that only three wins derived from this result.

In 63% of their fixtures Arsene Wenger’s men scored 2+ goals. In 25 of their matches they took the lead. Their highest margin of victory came at Leeds United’s expense, a 5-0 drubbing.

How Many Points Did Arsenal Invincibles Get?

The Invincibles racked up 73 points on route to making history. In the last three years running that would have seen the Gunners finish fourth.

Who Ended Arsenal’s Unbeaten Run?

Manchester United. The Red Devils claimed a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford in October 2004 to end the Gunners’ 49-match unbeaten run.

What Was Arsenal Invincibles’ Biggest Win?

Arsenal’s biggest win arrived in the Spring, a 5-0 deconstruction of a relegation-doomed Leeds.

How Many Players Scored Against Arsenal Invincibles?

25 different players scored a Premier League goal against the Invincibles, three of them from the penalty spot.

Everton’s Tomasz Radzinski was the only player to score home and away against the Gunners.

Are The Arsenal Invincibles The Best Premier League Team?

Unquestionably, the Arsenal Invincibles enjoyed one of the best seasons in Premier League history.

However, the debate regarding the best Premier League team of all-time is still to be concluded, with Manchester United’s 1998/99 treble-winning team and Manchester City’s “Centurions” held in similar high esteem.

Who Was Manager Of The Arsenal Invincibles?

Arsene Wenger – one of the greatest Premier League managers of all-time – was the Arsenal boss during the Invincibles era. The Frenchman took charge of the Gunners in 1996 and stayed at the club until 2018.

He is credited with changing the culture of English football for the better, in addition to guiding his club to sustained success.

Is Arsenal The Only Team To Go Undefeated?

As of the 2024/25 season, the Arsenal Invincibles are the only Premier League team to go an entire campaign without defeat. It is a remarkable feat that may never be equalled.