On 25 August 2004, Thierry Henry inspired Arsenal to a 3-0 win over Blackburn, extending the Gunners’ unbeaten run to a record 43 matches.
Thierry Henry celebrates scoring a goal against Liverpool in 2004
The previous record of 42 was held by Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest side in a run that ran from 26 November 1977 to 9 December 1978.
Whereas Forest’s run overlapped two seasons, the Gunners’ 43 matches started at the tail end of the 2002/03 season and lasted for the entirety of the 2003/04 campaign.
In completing an unbeaten top-flight season, Arsene Wenger’s side became only the second team ever to accomplish the feat – the first being Preston North End in the 1888/89 season.
Having equalled the record three days earlier with a 5-3 win over Middlesbrough, a goal and two assists (for Gilberto Silva and Jose Antonio Reyes) from influential striker Henry ensured that Arsenal were to rewrite the record books.
Reyes (seen here playing for Sevilla) contributed eight goals to the unbeaten run
The unbeaten run continued and when the Gunners despatched Aston Villa 3-1 on 16 October, only a tantalising encounter with Manchester United stood between Wenger’s Invincibles and a magical half-century of unbeaten matches.
During the corresponding fixture in 2003, Ruud van Nistelrooy had missed a penalty in the final minute which would have stopped Arsenal’s unbeaten run in its tracks at seven matches.
It was a bad-tempered affair personified by Martin Keown’s actions in the immediate aftermath of the missed penalty as he confronted and taunted the Dutch striker for his miss. The match became known as the ‘Battle of Old Trafford’.
Van Nistelrooy was to get his revenge. In the 73rd minute, Wayne Rooney – on his 19th birthday – controversially went down from Sol Campbell’s outstretched leg and United’s star striker didn’t miss from the spot on this occasion.
Van Nistelrooy scored 95 goals in 150 league appearances for United
A late goal from Rooney doubled United’s lead and so, with a 2-0 defeat, the Gunners’ unbeaten run finally came to a close at 49.
The match was yet again marred by ill-tempered behaviour, and the tensions between the two sides continued into the dressing rooms, with an unconfirmed Arsenal player hitting Sir Alex Ferguson with a slice of pizza in what was dubbed the ‘Battle of the Buffet’.
With Arsenal’s air of invincibility damaged, Chelsea – in Jose Mourinho’s first season as manager – went on to win the Premier League title with 95 points and just the one defeat, while Arsenal finished second.
Arsene Wenger has been unable to replicate the success of the 2003/04 campaign
It’s worth noting that during the course of the unbeaten run, Henry played in all but one of the matches and scored 39 goals, 16 more than the next most potent goalscorer, Robert Pires.
However, in the 12 seasons following the unbeaten season, the Gunners have finished no higher than second in the Premier League table.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
