How Arsenal can emulate the Invincibles in the Premier League title race

How Arsenal can emulate the Invincibles in the Premier League title race

As Arsenal close in on a first Premier League title since 2003/04, comparisons between the current generation of players and the legendary Invincibles are becoming inevitable.
The Gunners have had a great season without losing to Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp to name a few and although today’s Gunners cannot repeat that feat, they are closing in on that group of iconic total score.
But what can Mikel Arteta and his team take away from this 2003/04 season and go against each other as they seek glory on their own?

Here’s the current standings and what Arsenal need to do to emulate the legendary Invincibles.

2003/04 Premier League standings after 28 games

By beating Blackburn in March 2004, Arsenal had established a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League – sorry, Premiership, with closest rivals Chelsea far behind the pace and Manchester United barely in the picture.

Arsenal 2003/04 title race

2003/04 Arsenal Enema

20/03/04 – Arsenal 2-1 Bolton

28/03/04 – Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United

09/04/04 Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool

11/04/04 – Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal

04/16/04 – Arsenal 5-0 Leeds

25/04/04 – Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal

01/05/04 – Arsenal 0-0 Birmingham

04/05/04 – Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal

09/05/04 – Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

15/05/04 Arsenal 2-1 Leicester

Premier League 2022/23 standings after 28 games…

Almost 20 years later, Arsenal are firmly in control ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who are aiming for an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
A trip to the Etihad is still in sight as City have the goal difference and mental advantage in their favor in recent games between the two teams.

Arsenal title race 2022/23

04/01/23 – Arsenal vs Leeds United

04/09/23 – Liverpool-Arsenal

16/04/23 – West Ham United vs Arsenal

04/21/23 – Arsenal v Southampton

26/04/23 – Manchester City – Arsenal

29/04/23 – Arsenal-Chelsea

05/06/23 – Newcastle United vs Arsenal

13/05/23 – Arsenal vs Brighton

20/05/23 – Nottingham Forest – Arsenal

05/28/23 – Arsenal v Wolverhampton

How can Arsenal match the Invincibles in the 2022/23 Premier League title race

04/01/23 – Arsenal-Leeds United

There were three games in Arsenal’s Premier League title fight that pitted opponents Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and other players in the final stages of the 2003/04 season.

The first is Leeds. The Gunners hosted United at Highbury on a Friday night in 2004, when England’s best flight was still called the Premiership by fans everywhere and not just by the stubborn who refuse to call it the Premier League in modern times. Robert Pires got the opener before Henry stole the show with four goals in a 5-0 win to put Arsenal ten points clear at the top of the table.
When the sides met earlier this season, Arsenal picked up points at Elland Road thanks to Bukayo Saka’s only goal of the game.

09/04/23 – Liverpool-Arsenal

Arsenal will visit Anfield to face Liverpool in their second game after the international break.
The Gunners have had a poor recent record in the Merseyside red half, not winning against the Reds at home in the Premier League since September 2012. Arsenal, however, won the second leg earlier this season, winning a classic clash with Liverpool at Highbury in 2004. Goals from Sami Hyypia and Michael Owen threatened to end Arsenal’s unbeaten streak, but the Pires’ goal, combined with a brilliant hat-trick from Henry, saw the Gunners emerge 4-2 winners.

05/06/23 – Newcastle United v Arsenal

Back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Newcastle last season saw Arsenal’s bid crumble, but they are playing for a much bigger prize this year than just Champions League qualification.
The Gunners played Newcastle at St James’ Park in April 2004 with the game ending in a goalless draw. The result was the first of four draws in five games.

This match comes in the middle of a crucial race for Arsenal, playing against Manchester City, Chelsea and Brighton on both sides. If they manage those games by a decent margin over City and advance to the final games, it will be Mikel Arteta’s title that he will lose.