The Arsenal side of 2003/2004 is quite rightly regarded as one of the greatest in Premier League and English League history – going through a 38 game season without losing a single match is something no other team has managed to do, and despite those with an agenda trying to make out they weren’t one of the best sides ever, there is no doubting that sides place in the history books.
But I would say that the Arsenal team of 2001/2002 was even better.
How is this possible you ask? Consider the following points:
- Regarding our nearest rivals at the time Manchester United, The Invincibles team we drew 1-1 at home against them and then drew 0-0 away. In 2001/2002 season, we beat them convincingly 3-1 at home and then won 1-0 away (Wiltooooord!)
- In The Invincible season, we scored 73 goals. In the 2001/2002 season, we managed to score 79.
- In the 2001/2002 season, we had a peak Dennis Bergkamp, who scored 14 goals (his highest total since the 1997/1997 season). In The Invincibles season, he only scored 5 times.
- Our attack was more lethal in the 2001/2002 season, with Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu and Wiltord scoring a combined total of 69 goals. In The Invincibles season, that total was 51. We had more attacking options in 2001/2002 that the opposition couldn’t handle.
- In The Invincibles season, we won the Premier League. In the 2001/2002 season, we won the double.
- Defensively we were much stronger in the 2001/2002 season as well – we had Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Sol Campbell and Matthew Upson as our central defensive options. In The Invincibles season, we had Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure, Pascal Cygan and an ageing Martin Keown.
- There is no doubt that in the 2001/2002 season we had a better Ashley Cole, Lauren, Patrick Vieira, Edu, Ray Parlour, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord and Kanu who all statistically did better than they did in The Invincibles season.
And finally to finish, we have to consider the strength of the league at in both of those seasons.
The fact of the matter is the Premier League in the 2001/2002 season was much tougher to win, as shown by the number of points gained by the Top 4 sides in those seasons. The gap between 1st and 2nd was only 7 points, and the difference between 1st and 4th was 16 points.
1st: 87
2nd: 80
3rd: 77
4th: 71
In The Invincibles season however, Arsenal won the league by 11 points and 4th place were were a massive 30 points behind!
1st: 90
2nd: 79
3rd: 75
4th: 60
So what are you thoughts on this topic? Do you agree? Leave your comments in the section below!
2001-2002: We won 14 away and drew 5, 0 defeats. The 5 draws:
Zola dives for Chelsea’s penalty(1-1), Vieira missed injury time penalty at Sunderland(1-1),Poyet equalises in 94th minute at WHL(1-1).
3 keepers got medals never happened and won’t happen again(22 players received medals).
Scored in every game(even this current Liverpool or Guardiola’s teams could’t do that)and 55 consecutive matches scored into the next season.
Sol Campbell had to partner raging or injury prone partners. He didn’t play in 2-4 defeat v Charlton.
Only team to win the Double by winning the FACup first.
Not conceding a goal from open play from March 20 to May 11 last game v Everton(4-3).
Pires and Ljungberg winning separate footballers of the year.
Bergkamp goal of the season.
Henry Golden Boot.
The Ladies won the league and we also won Groundsman of the Year!