On October 24, 2004, Arsenal‘s incredible unbeaten run in the Premier League came to a close with a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United, with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney on target for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
The result ended a 49-match unbeaten run for the Gunners, and it was a famous game for more reasons than one.
Nicknamed the ‘Battle of the Buffet’, it became famous for a slice of pizza being thrown at Man United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson; Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas was named as the culprit at the time, and he later admitted that it was indeed him.
But where did it all begin?
It was on May 7 back in 2003 that Arsenal’s incredible run started, with the Gunners running riot against Southampton; Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant both helped themselves to three goals in a 6-1 hammering of the Saints.
The Gunners would not lose again until October 24 of the following year, going through the entire 2003-04 league campaign unbeaten to be crowned the ‘Invincibles’ – something no other team has managed since.
Arsenal actually only won 26 of their 38 league games during the 2023-04 Premier League campaign, drawing 12 times, but they finished 11 points clear of second-placed Chelsea at the summit to secure the trophy.
While the London club enjoyed success in the Premier League in 2003-04, their form did not transfer to the cup competitions, being eliminated in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and League Cup, while they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Thierry Henry proved to be the standout player in the final third of the field, scoring 39 times in all competitions, while Robert Pires managed 19 from a right-sided midfield role, including 14 in the Premier League.
Patrick Vieira, Ashley Cole and Kolo Toure were also standout players for Arsene Wenger‘s side during that particular season, and their achievements will live long in the memory.
To mark the anniversary of the start of that record-breaking 49-game unbeaten run in the league, Sports Mole is challenging you to name every team that Arsenal came up against in that time.
