A lot of cheering, celebrating, and no doubt drinking today. But at some point we should all take a long, sober look at teh 2003-04 Arsenal FC and reflect on their accomplishment.
Thirty-eight games without defeat.
That’s truly remarkable. Never once did this team take a day off. Never once did they have a truly awful performance. It should also be noted that never once did they suffer at the often cruel hands of fate.
And they certainly had luck on their side. How early it could have ended. If RvN makes that PK back in September Arsenal still probably win the title, but they would be just another champion, like the 100+ that came before them.
Thirty-eight times they did what needed to be done.
There are probably a lot of Arsenal fans who saw great teams with great Arsenal players. Liam Brady, Frank McLintock, Ian Wright and many more. But today we saw at least three of the all-time greatest Arsenal players on the field. If we never see players as good as Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry again we cannot complain.
I hope all Gooners truly appreciate how lucky we are.
2 Responses to “All Hail The Immortals”
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May 16th, 2004 at 9:47 am
Thank you Rick for your post & this site. After a lifetime of being a GOONER for 70yrs I never imagined a team could go unbeaten. It rates right up there with the many wonderful things that happened in all my years. I hope also all Gooners will understand & appreciate what every one at Highbury have done. We are Champions one & All. Good Luck Denis.
May 16th, 2004 at 3:34 pm
I don’t think you can possibly over-emphasize what an amazing accomplishment going undefeated in the league is. AMAZING. A year ago, AW said he felt it was possible for Arsenal to do this, and he was slated for it. Called Crazy.
One year later… with a team that many said wouldn’t/couldn’t win, because we didn’t sign any big names in the off-season… we run the table… and go undefeated in the league.
I don’t know if it will be another 115 years before it happens again… but I really don’t expect it to be accomplished again in the near future.
I would imagine that our priorities next season will be VERY MUCH geared towards winning the Champions League. I would think we will play alot of the younger players more often in the League Cup, FA CUP, and EPL matches. Opting to rest some of our first stringers more often to keep them fresh for the CL. The window with the current squad will not be open for long. We have a chance in the next year or two… to go for the Champions League crown. As this season proved, we are not far off… but you WILL NEED A BIT OF LUCK.
AMAZING SEASON. Long may our rule as Champions last.