Arsenal went 49 consecutive games unbeaten under Arsene Wenger in the 2003/2004 season. The Gunners won the championship and went down in history as the “Invincibles”. We look back on Arsenal’s incredible run.
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.
