Which team are better? The Arsenal unbeatables of 2003-04 or the 2011-12 Manchester City side?
Radio station Talksport declared yesterday that this Manchester City side is better than Arsenal’s record breaking team.
That is one argument we feel deserves to be put to bed right now.
This is no slight on Manchester City, the club’s season has been incredible, and the way they won it was spell binding, a moment they will never forget. Ever.
But Arsenal’s history makers were something special. To go the whole league season without losing a game is a remarkable achievement.
Seeing the unpredictable results roll in week after week this season only underlines that fact.
The City argument put forward relies on the ‘better individual players’ argument, but is this really true?
Take City’s Yaya Toure, and we give you Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira. Take Sergio Aguero, and we give you Dennis Bergkamp.
Then there is the issue over whether City have a striker that can match the 03-04 Thierry Henry?
Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany would both have been fine additions to that Arsenal side, but ask any Arsenal fan if Samir Nasri would get into their ‘immortal’ team and expect a withering, cutting response.
This may be a fine margin to argue, but Arsenal secured 90 points to City’s 89, a narrow margin, but one Manchester United would dearly have loved to hold yesterday afternoon.
Then you have to step back once again, and remember, ‘Arsenal did not lose a league match all season.’
It is quite simply a stupendous achievement. Teams City lost against this season included Sunderland, Chelsea, Swansea City, Everton, and notably Arsenal.
The reigning champions deserve to be heralded, they are a side which have the potential, and the backing, to go on and dominate English football.
But we should keep our perspective; the Arsenal of 03-04 were a better side.
Do you agree? Let us know your opinion…
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