The Gunners’ legendary ‘Invincibles’ in the 2003/04 Premier League season and what became of them

Leaders Arsenal have lost three league games so far this season. The first bankruptcy was already on the 6th matchday at Manchester United. Otherwise, the Gunners have suffered defeats against Everton and pursuers Manchester City.

Arsenal have a two-point lead and one game left (against Everton, on Wednesday from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker) over City in the current table. So the first championship in 19 years is quite possible.

A look back at the stars of yesteryear and what became of them after winning the title in 2004.

GOALKEEPER

Jens Lehmann, completed all 38 games of the season

Remained at FC Arsenal until 2008 and came back after a detour to VfB Stuttgart. He then worked as a coach and was on the Hertha supervisory board until May 2021.

DEFENSE

Kolo Touré, 37 games, 1 goal

Stayed until 2009 before moving to Man City for a lot of money. However, his best time was over, even if he became champion again with City. 2017 end of career. Now on the coaching staff at Leicester City.

Sol Campbell, 35 games, 1 goal

Left the Gunners for Portsmouth in 2006 and actually won the FA Cup with Pompey. After that: Notts County and back to Arsenal. End of career in 2011, since then he has been politically active.

Ashley Cole, 32 games

Two years after the title, he moved to city rivals Chelsea before moving on to AS Roma in 2014. Retired from Derby County in the summer of 2019 and was most recently assistant coach to Frank Lampard at Everton.

Lauren, 32 games

Lauren Bisan-Etame Mayer spent his prime with the Gunners. In 2007 he followed Campbell to Portsmouth. Ended his career in 2010. Since then he has worked as a TV expert in LaLiga or at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Pascal Cygan, 18 games

Went to Spain from Arsenal in 2006 and returned home from there. A former sporting director at his former club ES Wasquehal, he now coaches the Under-18s at Belgian club Royal Excel Mouscron.

Justin Hoyte, 1 game

The Gunners’ own offspring was still a teenager at the time and was only allowed to get a taste of the grown-ups. Later mainly Middlesbrough, was without a club in the meantime and now plays for Miami Beach CF.

Martin Keown, 10 games

After a total of 13 years, left Arsenal for Leicester in the summer after the title. Later still with Reading, but his career ended in 2005. After that he was initially seen as a coach, but today more as a TV expert.

MIDFIELD

Patrick Vieira, 29 games, 3 goals

Left Arsenal for Juve in 2005, to the displeasure of fans, then Inter a year later. Returned to England at the end of his career and ended his career with Man City in 2011. Crystal Palace coach since 2021.

Robert Pires, 36 games, 14 goals

Magically two more years with the Gunners and then went to Villarreal FC. Came out of retirement in 2014 to play for Goa FC in India. Final career end: 2016. Currently planning a coaching career.

Gilberto Silva, 32 games, 4 goals

Farewell 2008, Panathinaikos, Gremio Porto Alegre, Atletico Mineiro, career end 2013. In 2016 he was director of professional football at his former club Panathinaikos for a few months.

Edu, 30 games, 2 goals

After the title he stayed for another year. Four seasons at Valencia was followed by a move home to Brazil. He has been technical director of Arsenal FC since 2019 – and has therefore played a major role in the current success!

Freddie Ljungberg, 30 games, 4 goals

After retiring in 2011, he made a brief comeback in India in 2013. He then worked for the Arsenal youth team, was assistant coach at Wolfsburg and later assistant to Gunners coach Arteta. Currently without a club.

Ray Parlor, 25 games

Was already a veteran when Wenger took over in 1996. Moved to Middlesbrough after the Invincibles season, eventually retiring from Hull City in 2007. Today he can be seen as a TV expert.

David Bentley, 1 game

The championship season was his first as a professional – and last at Arsenal. He then played for Norwich, Blackburn, Tottenham, Birmingham, West Ham and Rostov before retiring in 2013 aged 29.

ATTACK

Thierry Henry, 37 games, 30 goals

Joined Barca in 2007 and won the title he was missing (Champions League!). Came back for four games in 2012 and scored promptly. After that coach at Monaco and Montreal Impact, as well as assistant coach of Belgium. However, he will not continue to work there under Domenico Tedesco.

Dennis Bergkamp, ​​28 games, 4 goals

After losing the CL final in 2006, he ended his career. He then worked in various capacities for youth club Ajax. Most recently assistant coach at Dutch club Almere City. Now without a club.

Jose Antonio Reyes, 13 games, 2 goals

The Spaniard didn’t last long at Arsenal – he returned home in 2006. After stints at Real and Atlético, among others, he moved to China in 2018. He passed away in June 2019 after a tragic car accident.

Sylvain Wiltord, 12 games, 3 goals

After various positions in France, Wiltord ended his career in 2012. In 2015 he took part in the reality show “Dropped”. A day after his retirement, ten contestants died in a helicopter crash.

Nwankwo Kanu, 10 games, 1 goal

The league title was followed by two seasons at West Brom and six at Portsmouth. In 2012, Kanu ended his career.

Jeremie Aliadière, 10 games

A year after the championship title, he left Arsenal and then mutated into a migratory bird. In 2017 he ended his active career in France at FC Lorient.

TRAINER

Arsène Wenger

After winning the championship in 2004, he remained in charge of Arsenal for 14 years. Although the triumph was not repeated, they still managed to win four FA Cups (2005, 2014, 2015, 2017). He has been FIFA Director since 2019.