2003–04 Arsenal F.C. season

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Arsenal
2003–04 season
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood
Manager Arsène Wenger
Premier League 1st
FA Cup Semi-finals
Carling Cup Semi-finals
FA Community Shield Runners-up
UEFA Champions League Quarter-finals
Top goalscorer League:
Thierry Henry (30)
All:
Thierry Henry (39)
Highest home attendance 38,184 – (28 March vs Manchester United, Premier League)
Lowest home attendance 27,451 – (28 October vs Rotherham United, Carling Cup)
Average home attendance 38,078
Home colours
Away colours
← 2002–03 2004–05 →

The 2003–04 season was Arsenal's 12th season in the Premier League, and their 74th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1] In remarkable fashion, the team from North London managed to go through an entire league campaign undefeated[2][3] and regain their status as Premiership champions, thus becoming only the second team to do so since Preston North End in 1889. Manager Arsène Wenger had predicted in 2002 that his squad was good enough to go unbeaten for an entire season,[4] an accomplishment which he cited as a personal goal of his.[5] The 2003-04 Arsenal squad has been voted the Premier League's best ever team.[1]

Although the team did not achieve similar dominance in other competitions, being eliminated in Champions League quarter-final to Chelsea and reaching the FA Cup and Carling Cup semi-finals, its league success was regarded by many commentators as a truly historic achievement.[6]

Arsenal's most significant signing of the summer was arguably former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, in a £1.5 million deal;[7] however, the club did also negotiate new contracts for captain Patrick Vieira and winger Robert Pirès.[8]

Contents

[edit] Background

See also: 2001–02 FA Premier League and 2002–03 FA Premier League
After his team's impressive start to the 2002–03 sason, Arsène Wenger insisted that his squad could remain unbeaten in every competition.[9]

Liverpool's comeback against Arsenal in the 2001 FA Cup Final prompted manager Arsène Wenger to admit new players would be brought in during the transfer window.[10] To fill the void left by Emmanuel Petit in the centre of midfield, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was signed from Rangers for £8.5 million.[11] Defender Sol Campbell controversially moved from rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a bosman ruling, while teenager Francis Jeffers was purchased from Everton in an initial £8 million deal.[12] Junichi Inamoto and Richard Wright were also recruited, with Nelson Vivas the only major player leaving the club.

Arsenal began the 2001–02 season relatively well and remained in the title race after an impressive away display at Liverpool in December 2001. Despite going down to ten men in the first half, Thierry Henry converted a penalty kick and Fredrik Ljungberg scored a second from a counter attack. The win came after a loss to Newcastle in what proved to be Arsenal's third and final defeat of the season. By March, Arsenal was installed as favourites for the title by bookmakers after Manchester United's draw away to Derby County. Arsenal won their eight remaining Premier League games – 13 in total, to regain the title without the services of in-form winger Robert Pirès who was injured during the run-in. The club completed their third double five days previously, winning the FA Cup having beaten Chelsea 2–0 in the final. Wenger hoped his team's success would begin an era of dominating English football for years to come.[13] He also aimed for significant improvement in the Champions League, a competition where the club reached higher than the group stages twice in four attempts.

Although setting the Premier League alight in the first period of the subsequent 2002–03 season, Arsenal failed to retain the title, losing out to Manchester United who completed an 18 match unbeaten streak from the end of December. In an interview with the Daily Mirror a month after the season got underway, Wenger revealed his ambition would be for Arsenal to remain undefeated in all competitions, citing it as "possible" if the attitude was right.[4] He was often misquoted and widely ridiculed over the issue.[14][15] Wayne Rooney's stoppage time goal however in October inflicted their first defeat of the season away to Everton, followed by losses to Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and Manchester United. What seemed like the title being won again in Manchester - this time away to Manchester City as early as in February was up in the air by April after throwing away a two-nil lead away to Bolton Wanderers. Losing to Leeds United in the following match handed the league championship to Manchester United, who beat Charlton Athletic the previous morning.

Chelsea, who finished fourth at the expense of Liverpool, were taken over in the close season by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, with the aim of making them one of Europe's most lucrative teams.[16] In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times, Abramovich revealed his interest in Arsenal pair Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell but wanted to keep the club's transfer targets private because of the inflationary repercussions.[17] Club captain Patrick Vieira was also linked with a move away from Highbury, with admirers Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea strongly interested. Wenger, though, ruled out any departures and warned against the implications of Chelsea's new found wealth.[18] After weeks of negotiations, Vieira eventually signed an extension to his current contract, while goalkeeper David Seaman departed to Manchester City, with German international Jens Lehmann joining on a £1.5 million deal.

[edit] Pre-season

[edit] Premier League

See also: 2003–04 FA Premier League
[icon] This section requires expansion.

On the opening day of the season, Arsenal hosted Everton at Highbury. Defender Sol Campbell was sent off in the 25th minute, for a professional foul on Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen. Arsenal, in spite of their man disadvantage, went a goal up after striker Thierry Henry converted a penalty and Robert Pirès in the second half added a second goal from close range. Tomasz Radzinski scored for Everton, with six minutes of normal time remaining but three minutes after lost Li Tie, sent off for a second bookable offence.

[edit] FA Cup

Main article: 2003–04 FA Cup

Arsenal, like all clubs in the top two divisions, entered the FA Cup in the third round and were drawn to face Leeds United away.[22] After eight minutes, Leeds went ahead when Lehmann's clearance fell to striker Mark Viduka to put the ball in the net.[23] Arsenal equalised through Henry, who converted Ljungberg's cross from the right on a volley.[23] Further goals from Edu, Pirès and Touré inflicted a third consecutive 1–4 win for Arsenal at Elland Road.[23] At home to Middlesbrough in the fourth round, Bergkamp opened the scoring for Arsenal, following good play from Parlour.[24] However, Joseph-Désiré Job equalised for the away team four minutes later.[24] Ljungberg restored Arsenal's lead with a shot outside the penalty box and scored a second, after headering Pirès cross from a corner.[24] George Boateng was sent off for the vistors in the 86th minute for two bookable offences and substitute David Bentley added a fourth goal for Arsenal, chipping goalkeeper Schwarzer in the last minute of normal time.[24]

In the fifth round, Arsenal played Chelsea at Highbury. In the 40th minute, striker Adrian Mutu sidestepped Touré before scoring from a 20-yard shot.[25] Reyes, who replaced Henry in the first team for the tie, levelled the scoreline with a long range shot.[25] He beat goalkeeper Neil Sullivan to score his second and winning goal of the match.[25]

[edit] Football League Cup

Main article: 2003–04 Football League Cup

[edit] UEFA Champions League

Main article: 2003–04 UEFA Champions League

[edit] Group stage

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
England Arsenal 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 10
Russia Lokomotiv Moscow 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8
Italy Internazionale 6 2 2 2 8 11 −3 8
Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv 6 2 1 3 8 8 0 7

Source: Competition article

[edit] Round of 16

Main article: 2003–04 UEFA Champions League knockout stage

[edit] Quarter-finals

[edit] Competitions

[edit] Overall

Competition Started round Final
position / round		 First match Last match
Premier League — 1st 15 August 2003 15 May 2004
UEFA Champions League Group stage Quarter-finals 16 September 2003 6 April 2004
Football League Cup Third round Semi finals 28 October 2003 3 February 2004
FA Cup Third round Semi finals 4 January 2004 3 April 2004

Source: Competitions

[edit] Premier League

[edit] Classification

Further information: Final League Table
Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Arsenal (C) 38 26 12 0 73 26 +47 90 2004–05 UEFA Champions League Group stage
2 Chelsea 38 24 7 7 67 30 +37 79
3 Manchester United 38 23 6 9 64 35 +29 75 2004–05 UEFA Champions League Knockout stage
4 Liverpool 38 16 12 10 68 37 +31 60

Updated to games played on 18 May 2004
Source: statto.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

[edit] Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 26 12 0 73 26 +47 90 15 4 0 40 14 +26 11 8 0 33 12 +21

Last updated: 18 May 2004
Source: statto.com

[edit] Results by round

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
Ground H A H A H A H A H A A H A H A H A H A A H A H A H A H A H H H A H A H A A H
Result W W W W D D W W W D W W W D D W D W W D W W W W W W W W W D W D W D D D W W
Position 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Source: statto.com
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Lose; W = Win; P = Postponed.

[edit] Players

[edit] Squad information

Squad statistics before season began.

N
 P
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 EU
 Since
 App
 Goals
 Ends
 Transfer fee
 Notes
1 GK GERGermany Jens Lehmann 34 EU 2003 54 0 2007 £1.5M
12 RB CMRCameroon Lauren 27 EU 2000 153 5 2005 £7.2M
23 CB ENGEngland Sol Campbell 29 EU 2001 145 6 2005 Free
28 CB CIVCôte d'Ivoire Kolo Touré 23 Non-EU 2002 95 5 2009 £0.25M
3 LB ENGEngland Ashley Cole 23 EU 2000 140 7 2005 Youth system
8 RM SWESweden Fredrik Ljungberg 27 EU 1998 227 54 2006 £3M
4 CM FRAFrance Patrick Vieira (captain) 27 EU 1996 381 29 2007 £3.5M
19 CM BRABrazil Gilberto Silva 27 Non-EU 2002 96 7 2006 £4.5M
7 LM FRAFrance Robert Pirès 30 EU 2000 188 56 2007 £6M
10 CF NEDNetherlands Dennis Bergkamp 35 EU 1995 331 109 2005 £7.5M
14 CF FRAFrance Thierry Henry 26 EU 1999 256 151 2007 £10.5M
17 CM BRABrazil Edu 26 Non-EU 2001 62 13 2004 £6M
15 CM ENGEngland Ray Parlour 31 EU 1989 466 32 2004 Youth system
18 CB FRAFrance Pascal Cygan 30 EU 2002 51 1 2006 £2M
11 RM FRAFrance Sylvain Wiltord 30 EU 2000 106 38 2004 £13.3M
22 LB FRAFrance Gaël Clichy 18 EU 2003 14 0 2011 £0.25M
9 CF ESPSpain José Antonio Reyes 20 EU 2004 (Winter) 12 5 2007 £10.5M
25 CF NGRNigeria Kanu 27 Non-EU 1999 (Winter) 196 44 2004 £4.2M
5 CB ENGEngland Martin Keown 37 EU 1993 449 8 2004 £2M
30 CF FRAFrance Jérémie Aliadière 21 EU 1999 7 5 2007 Youth system
39 RM ENGEngland David Bentley 19 EU 2001 9 1 Undisclosed Youth system
33 GK IRLRepublic of Ireland Graham Stack 22 EU 1998 5 0 Undisclosed Youth system
27 CB GREGreece Efstathios Tavlaridis 24 EU 2001 3 0 Undisclosed Undisclosed
45 RB ENGEngland Justin Hoyte 19 EU 2002 3 0 Undisclosed Youth system
57 CM ESPSpain Cesc Fàbregas 17 EU 2003 3 1 2011 Free
53 AM ENGEngland Jerome Thomas 21 EU 2001 3 0 Undisclosed Youth system
54 CF GHAGhana Quincy Owusu-Abeyie 18 EU 2003 3 0 Undisclosed Youth system
51 RB USAUnited States Frank Simek 19 Non-EU 2003 1 0 Undisclosed Youth system
16 CM NEDNetherlands Giovanni van Bronckhorst 29 EU 2001 41 1 2004 £8.5M
9 CF ENGEngland Francis Jeffers 23 EU 2001 0 0 Undisclosed £9M
55 CM ISLIceland Ólafur Ingi Skúlason 21 EU 2001 1 0 Undisclosed Youth system
32 CF CZECzech Republic Michal Papadopulos 19 EU 2003 1 0 Undisclosed Loan
52 CM ENGEngland John Spicer 20 EU 2001 1 0 Undisclosed Youth system
56 CF ENGEngland Ryan Smith 17 EU 2001 0 0 Undisclosed Youth system
20 CB SWISwitzerland Philippe Senderos 21 EU 2002 (Winter) 0 0 Undisclosed £2.5M

Last updated: August 2009
Source: Arseweb.com (for country, number, position, appearances, age and since)
Ordered by Starting 11 then appearances.

[edit] Transfers

[edit] In

[edit] First team

# Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
1 GK Germany Jens Lehmann Germany Borussia Dortmund £1,500,000 23 July 2003 [7]
22 DF France Gaël Clichy France Cannes £250,000 4 August 2003 [26]
9 FW Spain José Antonio Reyes Spain Sevilla £10,500,000 28 January 2004 [27]
FW Netherlands Robin van Persie Netherlands Feyenoord £3,000,000 28 April 2004 [28]

[edit] Reserves & Academy

# Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
DF Switzerland Philippe Senderos Switzerland Servette Undisclosed 1 June 2003 [29]
DF Switzerland Johan Djourou Switzerland Étoile Carouge Free 1 August 2003 [30]
57 MF Spain Cesc Fàbregas Spain Barcelona Free 20 August 2003 [31]

[edit] Out

[edit] First team

# Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
1 GK England David Seaman England Manchester City Free 4 June 2003 [32]
DF Ukraine Oleg Luzhny England Wolverhampton Wanderers Free 24 July 2003 [33]

[edit] Reserves & Academy

# Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
FW Republic of Ireland Graham Barrett England Coventry City Free 30 May 2003 [34]
20 GK France Guillaume Warmuz Germany Borussia Dortmund Free 28 July 2003 [35]
29 DF Germany Moritz Volz England Fulham Nominal 20 January 2004 [36]
FW England Jermaine Brown England Boston United Free 26 February 2004 [37]

[edit] Loan in

[edit] First team

[edit] Reserves & Academy

# Position Player Transferred from Duration Date Source
DF Czech Republic Michal Papadopulos Czech Republic Baník Ostrava Entire season 1 August 2003 [38]

[edit] Loan out

[edit] First team

# Position Player Transferred from Duration Date Source
26 DF Latvia Igors Stepanovs Belgium Beveren Entire season 10 August 2003 [39]
21 MF England Jermaine Pennant England Leeds United Two month loan, extended to May 2004 20 August 2003 [40]
FW England Francis Jeffers England Everton Entire season 1 September 2003 [41]

[edit] Reserves & Academy

# Position Player Transferred from Duration Date Source
DF Brazil Juan England Millwall Three months 1 August 2003 [42]
31 DF Denmark Sebastian Svärd Denmark Copenhagen Until December 2003 3 August 2003 [43]
29 DF Germany Moritz Volz England Fulham Six months 7 August 2003 [36]
FW England Jermaine Brown England Colchester United Two months 14 October 2003 [37]
31 DF Denmark Sebastian Svärd England Stoke City Until May 2004 29 December 2003 [43]

[edit] Squad stats

No. Pos. Nat. Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Champions League Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangular card A red rectangular card
1 GK  GER Jens Lehmann 38 0 5 0 0 0 11 0 54 0
3 DF  ENG Ashley Cole 32 0 4 0 1 0 9 1 46 1
4 MF  FRA Patrick Vieira 29 3 5 0 2 0 6+1 0 43 3
5 DF  ENG Martin Keown 3+5 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 13 0
7 MF  FRA Robert Pirès 33+3 14 3+1 1 0 0 10 4 50 19
8 MF  SWE Fredrik Ljungberg 27+3 4 4 4 0 0 8+1 2 43 10
9 FW  ESP José Antonio Reyes 7+6 2 2+1 2 1 0 2+2 1 12+9 5
10 FW  NED Dennis Bergkamp 21+7 4 3 1 0 0 4+2 0 37 5
11 FW  FRA Sylvain Wiltord 8+4 3 0 0 3 1 3+1 0 19 4
12 DF  CMR Lauren 30+2 0 5 0 8 0 1 0 46 0
14 FW  FRA Thierry Henry 37 30 2+1 3 0 0 10 5 50 38
15 MF  ENG Ray Parlour 12+10 0 2+1 0 3 0 4+1 0 33 0
17 MF  BRA Edu 12+17 2 4+1 1 4 1 7+1 3 46 7
18 DF  FRA Pascal Cygan 10+8 0 0 0 3 0 2+1 0 24 0
19 MF  BRA Gilberto Silva 29+3 4 3 0 1 0 5+3 0 44 4
22 DF  FRA Gaël Clichy 7+5 0 1+3 0 5 0 1 0 22 0
23 DF  ENG Sol Campbell 35 1 5 0 0 0 9 0 49 1
25 FW  NGR Kanu 2+7 1 1+2 0 4 2 1+6 0 23 3
27 DF  GRE Efstathios Tavlaridis 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0
28 DF  CIV Kolo Touré 36+1 1 4+1 2 2 0 11 0 55 3
28 FW  FRA Jérémie Aliadière 1+7 0 1 0 3 4 1 0 7+8 4
32 FW  CZE Michal Papadopulos 0 0 0 0 +1 0 0 0 +1 0
33 GK  IRL Graham Stack 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 5 0
39 MF  ENG David Bentley 1 0 +2 1 4 0 +1 0 8 1
45 DF  ENG Justin Hoyte +1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2+1 0
51 DF  USA Frank Simek 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
52 FW  ENG John Spicer 0 0 0 0 +1 0 0 0 +1 0
53 MF  ENG Jerome Thomas 0 0 0 0 1+2 0 0 0 1+2 0
54 FW  GHA Quincy Owusu-Abeyie 0 0 0 0 1+2 0 0 0 1+2 0
55 MF  ISL Ólafur Ingi Skúlason 0 0 0 0 +1 0 0 0 +1 0
56 FW  ENG Ryan Smith 0 0 0 0 +3 0 0 0 +3 0
57 MF  ESP Cesc Fàbregas 0 0 0 0 2+1 1 0 0 3 1


[edit] Starting XI

This section shows the most used players for each position considering a 4–4–1–1 formation.

No.
 Pos
 Nat
 Name
 MS Notes
1 GK GERGermany Lehmann 54
12 RB CMRCameroon Lauren 45
23 CB ENGEngland Campbell 50
28 CB CIVCôte d'Ivoire Touré 53
3 LB ENGEngland Cole 47
8 RM SWESweden Ljungberg 40
4 CM FRAFrance Vieira 43
19 CM BRABrazil Gilberto 39
7 LM FRAFrance Pirès 46
10 SS NEDNetherlands Bergkamp 29
14 CF FRAFrance Henry 50
.

[edit] Scorers


[edit] All

Scorer Nationality Goals
Thierry Henry  France 38
Robert Pirès  France 19
Fredrik Ljungberg  Sweden 10
Edu  Brazil 6
Dennis Bergkamp  Netherlands 5
José Antonio Reyes  Spain
Gilberto  Brazil 4
Sylvain Wiltord  France
Jérémie Aliadière  France
Patrick Vieira  France 3
Nwankwo Kanu  Nigeria
Kolo Touré  Ivory Coast
Sol Campbell  England 1
Ashley Cole  England
David Bentley  England
Cesc Fàbregas  Spain


[edit] League

Scorer Goals
France Thierry Henry 30
France Robert Pirès 14
Sweden Fredrik Ljungberg 4
Netherlands Dennis Bergkamp
Brazil Gilberto
France Sylvain Wiltord 3
France Patrick Vieira
Brazil Edu 2
Spain José Antonio Reyes
Nigeria Nwankwo Kanu 1
Côte d'Ivoire Kolo Touré
England Sol Campbell


[edit] Champions League

Scorer Goals
France Thierry Henry 5
France Robert Pirès 4
Brazil Edu 3
Sweden Fredrik Ljungberg 2
England Ashley Cole 1
Spain José Antonio Reyes


[edit] FA Cup

Scorer Goals
Sweden Fredrik Ljungberg 4
France Thierry Henry 3
Spain José Antonio Reyes 2
Côte d'Ivoire Kolo Touré
France Robert Pirès 1
Netherlands Dennis Bergkamp
Brazil Edu
England David Bentley

[edit] Carling Cup

Scorer Goals
France Jérémie Aliadière 4
Nigeria Nwankwo Kanu 2
France Sylvain Wiltord 1
Spain Cesc Fàbregas

[edit] Club

[edit] Coaching staff

Position Staff
Manager France Arsène Wenger
Assistant manager Northern Ireland Pat Rice
First team coach Bosnia and Herzegovina Boro Primorac
Goalkeeping coach Republic of Ireland Gerry Peyton[44]
Fitness coach England Tony Colbert
Physiotherapist England Gary Lewin
Club doctor England Ian Beasley[45]
Chief scout England Steve Rowley

Last updated: 23 February 2012
Source: Arsenal F.C.

[edit] Other information

Chairman England Peter Hill-Wood
Ground (capacity and dimensions) Highbury (38,500 / 100x67 metres)

Last updated: 23 February 2012
Source: Arsenal F.C.

[edit] Legacy

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira lifting the trophy at Highbury.

Arsenal's achievement of going unbeaten in the league earned them the praise of many involved in world football. French international Michel Platini applauded their approach to the game[46] while Roberto Carlos, regarded as one of Real Madrid's galácticos likened the team's style to "samba football".[46] Former Arsenal manager George Graham pinpointed the success to defensive improvements which rued them last season[47] and former striker Alan Smith felt the team were "certainly the best Highbury's ever seen".[48] Brian Clough who was at the helm during Forest's record breaking run of 42 league matches without defeat hailed Wenger's success as "nothing short of incredible"[49] while Preston North End, the last team to remain undefeated in the top-tier English division sent their congratulations, describing the feat as "fabulous".[50] Furthermore in recognition of their accomplishment, the Premier League awarded Arsenal a commemorative golden replica trophy to be presented, before their first home game of the season.

[edit] See also

Portal icon English football portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Arsenal Football Club". Premier League. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/clubs/profile.overview.html/arsenal. Retrieved 22 February 2012. 
  2. ^ "The Unbeaten Record". Arsenal F.C.. http://www.arsenal.com/history/club-records/the-unbeaten-record. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  3. ^ "Arsenal's invincibles make history". CNN International (Cable News Network). 15 May 2004. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/05/15/england.saturday/index.html. Retrieved 20 August 2009. 
  4. ^ a b Lipton, Martin (21 September 2002). "We Won't Lose One Match". The Mirror. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FOOTBALL%3A+WE+WON'T+LOSE+ONE+MATCH%3B+Wenger%3A+I+am+not+arrogant+and+I'm...-a091879371. Retrieved 20 August 2009. "It's not impossible. I know it will be difficult for us to go through the season unbeaten. But if we keep the right attitude it's possible we can do it." 
  5. ^ Townsend, Nick (16 May 2004). "The men for all season". The Independent (London: Independent Print Limited). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-men-for-all-season-563630.html. Retrieved 20 August 2009. "It is the biggest moment since I arrived. My dream has always been to play a whole season unbeaten. It's something unique." 
  6. ^ Lawrence, Amy (16 May 2004). "Vintage Bergkamp uncorks Wenger's premier crew". Guardian.co.uk (London: Guardian News and Media). http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-47757,00.html. Retrieved 20 August 2009. "Arsenal's achievement may not make them 'great' in everyone's opinion – those who define greatness only by European Cups, back-to-back titles, and triple cartwheels on the way to every goal – but it is staggering in its own right." 
  7. ^ a b "Arsenal seal Lehmann deal". BBC Sport. 2003-07-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3088221.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-03. 
  8. ^ Kempson, Russell (13 August 2003). "Vieira and Pires put end to speculation". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article872390.ece. Retrieved 20 August 2009.  (Registration required)
  9. ^ "Wenger targets unbeaten season". BBC Sport. 21 September 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2272194.stm. Retrieved 17 July 2010. 
  10. ^ "Wenger targets fresh blood". BBC Sport. 13 May 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1327326.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  11. ^ Hughes, Ian (13 August 2001). "Gio could be key to Arsenal glory". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/1484947.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  12. ^ "£10m Jeffers moves to Arsenal". BBC Sport. 14 July 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1369272.stm. Retrieved 21 September 2010. 
  13. ^ "Wenger hails 'shift of power'". BBC Sport. 9 May 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1976435.stm. Retrieved 11 February 2010. "We wanted tonight to be a shift of power, and to take the trophy back to Highbury." 
  14. ^ Moore, Glenn (17 May 2004). "Wenger's invincibles need European success". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wengers-invincibles-need-european-success-563652.html. Retrieved 14 August 210. 
  15. ^ Bradley, Mark (17 May 2004). "Unbeaten record better than European Cup win, says Wenger". Irish Examiner (Thomas Crosbie Holdings). Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2004/0517/ireland/unbeaten-record-better-than-european-cup-win-says-wenger-413143737.html#ixzz1n7CiZWNN. Retrieved 22 February 2012. 
  16. ^ "Russian businessman buys Chelsea". BBC Sport. 2 July 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3036838.stm. Retrieved 18 July 2010. 
  17. ^ Lewis, William (6 July 2003). "Chelsea bid £30m for Henry". London: The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1148472.ece. Retrieved 19 July 2010. 
  18. ^ Campbell, Denis (20 July 2003). "Roman's army". London: Guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003/jul/20/sport.comment2. Retrieved 19 July 2010. 
  19. ^ "Solitary Strike Earns Posh Win Over Arsenal". Peterborough United F.C.. 17 November 2004. http://www.theposh.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10427~398298,00.html. Retrieved 19 February 2012. 
  20. ^ "Dunst supported SC Ritzing vs. FC Arsenal London ...". Dunst.cc. 22 July 2003. http://www.dunst.cc/dunst/e/and/news/ritzing%20arsenal.php. Retrieved 19 February 2012. 
  21. ^ "0:2 gegen die Gunners" (in German). FK Austria Wien. 25 July 2003. http://web.archive.org/web/20030730062033/http://www.fk-austria.at/. Retrieved 19 February 2012. 
  22. ^ "FA Cup third round draw". BBC. 17 December 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3296895.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2012. 
  23. ^ a b c "Leeds 1-4 Arsenal". BBC Sport (BBC). 4 January 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3349313.stm. Retrieved 2 May 2012. 
  24. ^ a b c d "Arsenal 4-1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport (BBC). 24 January 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3403683.stm. Retrieved 2 May 2012. 
  25. ^ a b c "Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea". BBC Sport (BBC). 15 February 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3478989.stm. Retrieved 4 May 2012. 
  26. ^ "Arsenal sign Clichy". BBC Sport (BBC). 4 August 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3123225.stm. Retrieved 3 August 2010. 
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  28. ^ "Arsenal sign Van Persie". BBC Sport (BBC). 28 April 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3659835.stm. Retrieved 13 August 2010. 
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