The Invincibles (football)

In English football, "The Invincibles" has been used to refer to the Preston North End team of the 1880s managed by William Sudell,^[1][2] and the Arsenal team of the 2003–04 season managed by Arsène Wenger.^[3] Both teams earned the nickname after completing an English league campaign unbeaten, the Preston team also remaining unbeaten in cup competition during the same season.

Preston North End

Preston North End became football's first "Invincibles" when they won the inaugural Football League competition, completing the season unbeaten in both the league and FA Cup, which also made them the first team ever to achieve the "Double". Preston's league record was 18 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses, out of 22 games played, while their cup record was 5 wins out of 5 rounds played. Preston also won the Cup without conceding a goal.

Preston's unbeaten run stretched to one game the following season, their first league defeat came away to Aston Villa in the second game, losing 5–3.^[4]

Of the seven teams to have completed the Double in England, Preston remain the only one to have done so unbeaten.

In 2008, Preston opened a new 5,000 seater stand at their Deepdale stadium, named the Invincibles Pavilion in honour of the unbeaten 1880s team that had also played their home matches at the same site.^[5]

The team that won the 1889 FA Cup Final at the Kennington Oval, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0, was as follows:

GK Robert Mills-Roberts DF Bob Howarth DF Bob Holmes MF George Drummond MF David Russell MF Johnny Graham FR Jack Gordon FW Jimmy Ross FW John Goodall FW Fred Dewhurst (c) FL Sam Thomson

Matches

Football League

Match	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
1	8 September 1888	Burnley	H	5–2	5,000	Gordon, Ross (2), Dewhurst (2)
2	15 September 1888	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	4–0	5,000	Gordon, Ross, A. Goodall, J. Goodall
3	22 September 1888	Bolton Wanderers	H	3–1	5,000	Gordon (2), Drummond
4	29 September 1888	Derby County	A	3–2	6,000	Robertson, Ross (2)
5	6 October 1888	Stoke	H	7–0	3,000	Ross (4), Whittle, J. Goodall, Dewhurst
6	13 October 1888	West Bromwich Albion	H	3–0	10,000	Dewhurst, Edwards (2)
7	20 October 1888	Accrington	A	0–0	6,000
8	27 October 1888	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	5–2	6,000	Gordon, Ross, J. Goodall (3)
9	3 November 1888	Notts County	A	7–0	7,000	Gordon (3), Ross, J. Goodall (3)
10	10 November 1888	Aston Villa	H	1–1	10,000	J. Goodall
11	12 November 1888	Stoke	A	3–0	4,500	Ross, Thomson, Robertson
12	17 November 1888	Accrington	H	2–0	7,000	Gordon, Dewhurst
13	24 November 1888	Bolton Wanderers	A	5–2	10,000	Ross (2), Robertson, Dewhurst, J. Goodall
14	8 December 1888	Derby County	H	5–0	4,000	Inglis, J. Goodall (2), Dewhurst (2)
15	15 December 1888	Burnley	A	2–2	8,000	Ross, Thomson
16	22 December 1888	Everton	H	3–0	8,000	Dewhurst, J. Goodall (2)
17	26 December 1888	West Bromwich Albion	A	5–0	5,150	J. Goodall (2), Ross (2), Gordon
18	29 December 1888	Blackburn Rovers	H	1–0	8,000	J. Goodall
19	5 January 1889	Notts County	H	4–1	4,000	J. Goodall (2), Edwards, unknown
20	12 January 1889	Blackburn Rovers	A	2–2	10,000	Dewhurst, Thomson
21	19 January 1889	Everton	A	2–0	15,000	J. Goodall, Ross
22	9 February 1889	Aston Villa	A	2–0	10,000	Dewhurst (2)

FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
1	2 February 1889	Bootle	A	3–0	1,000	J. Goodall, Gordon, Thomson
2	16 February 1889	Grimsby Town	A	2–0	8,000	J. Goodall, Ross
3	2 March 1889	Birmingham St George's	H	2–0	8,000	Holmes, Thomson
Semi-final	16 March 1889	West Bromwich Albion	N	1–0	22,688	Russell
Final	30 March 1889	Wolverhampton Wanderers	N	3–0	25,000	Dewhurst, Thomson, Ross

Arsenal

In May 2002, Arsenal beat Manchester United to regain the Premier League and equal Preston's record of not losing an away match all season. In assessing the team's achievement, Tim Rich of The Independent wrote: "Invincibles, they called the last team to go through a season unbeaten away from home, although it is a word which belongs far more to the Arsenal side of 2002 than it ever could to the Preston team of 1888–89."^[6] Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger wanted his team to push on for more honours and described the defeat of Manchester United as a "shift of power" in English football.^[7] The team began the following season in good stead; a 4–1 win against Leeds United in September 2002 meant Arsenal broke the domestic record for scoring in consecutive games (47), and away league games without defeat (22).^[8] Such was their effective start to the campaign, Wenger reiterated his belief that Arsenal could remain the whole season undefeated:^{[nb 1]}

"It's not impossible as AC Milan once did it but I can't see why it's so shocking to say it. Do you think Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea don't dream that as well? They're exactly the same. They just don't say it because they're scared to look ridiculous, but nobody is ridiculous in this job as we know anything can happen."^[10]

"Somebody threw me a T-shirt after the trophy was presented which read 'Comical Wenger says we can go the whole season unbeaten.' I was just a season too early!"

Arsène Wenger, May 2004^[11]

Arsenal lost to Everton in October 2002 and failed to win their next three matches in all competitions, representing their worst run of form in 19 years.^[12] By March 2003, Arsenal had established themselves as league leaders, but nearest challenger Manchester United overhauled them to win the title.^[13] Arsenal finished the season with league wins against Southampton and Sunderland and was later consoled with success in the FA Cup – they beat the former team 1–0 in the 2003 final.

Wenger sought to strengthen his team with minor additions: goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, as well as a number of young players from academies abroad, namely Gaël Clichy and Phillipe Senderos. In comparison to their rivals Chelsea, bankrolled by new owner Roman Abramovich, and Manchester United, Arsenal's transfer activity was quiet. The financial constraints that came with the Ashburton Grove stadium project meant Wenger had little income to spend on new players.^[14] Once funding was found amidst the season, the club added to its roster: José Antonio Reyes arrived in the winter transfer window and Robin van Persie soon followed.

In the 2003–04 season, Arsenal regained the Premier League without a single defeat. Over the 38 games played, their league record stood at 26 wins, 12 draws and 0 losses. The unbeaten run came close to ending six matches into the campaign against Manchester United. Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty in injury time; the match then ended 0–0. At the turn of the calendar year, Arsenal won nine league matches in a row to consolidate first position; they secured their status as champions with a draw against local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in April 2004. Their form did not continue into the domestic cups; Arsenal exited the semi-final stage of the Football League Cup and the FA Cup to eventual winners Middlesbrough and Manchester United, respectively. In Europe, Arsenal reached the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League where they were eliminated by London rivals Chelsea.^[15]

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira presented with the trophy at Highbury on the final day of the season.

Continuing into the next season, a special gold version of the Premier League trophy was commissioned to commemorate Arsenal winning the title without a single defeat.^[16] In their second Premier League game of 2004–05, Arsenal beat Middlesbrough to equal Nottingham Forest's record of 42 league matches unbeaten;^[17] the feat was eclipsed with a win at home to Blackburn Rovers.^[18] The run extended to six more matches for a total of 49 league games undefeated, before coming to an end with a controversial 2–0 defeat to Manchester United.^[19]

Formation

Lehmann Lauren Campbell Touré Cole Pirès Vieira Gilberto Ljungberg Bergkamp Henry

The most used Arsenal players in the 2003–04 season, positioned in a 4–4–1–1 formation.

Compared with the club's double-winning side of 1998, only Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp remained as first team players throughout the unbeaten run; Martin Keown and Ray Parlour featured briefly. Defenders Lee Dixon and Tony Adams had retired from professional football in 2002 and goalkeeper David Seaman joined Manchester City a year later. Kolo Touré, bought as a right-back and defensive midfielder, was chosen to play in central defence alongside Sol Campbell after impressing during pre-season. Lauren who played as a midfielder for Real Mallorca was shifted as a right-back when he joined Arsenal. Wenger initially replaced left-back Nigel Winterburn with Sylvinho, but an injury to the defender allowed Ashley Cole to take his place as first pick by the 2000–01 season. In midfield Gilberto Silva partnered Vieira, and Fredrik Ljungberg and Robert Pirès each played either side of the wing. Thierry Henry, signed as Nicolas Anelka's replacement in 1999, was the team's focal point in attack; he was supported most often by Bergkamp.

Although the team were interpreted as one which organised themselves as 4–4–2, the formation with the ball was akin to 4–4–1–1. Wenger's tactics emphasised attacking football and relied on movement and interchanging, with full-backs joining in attacks. Journalist Michael Cox noted Arsenal's strengths lay on the left side of the pitch and added because the opposition focused on containing Cole, Pirès and Henry, it allowed Lauren and Ljungberg to find space and cross the ball. The team were also strong on the counter, exemplified in their away performances against Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.^[20]

Matches

Premier League

Match	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
1	7 May 2003	Southampton	H	6–1	38,052	Pirès 8', 22', 46', Pennant 15', 18', 25'
2	11 May 2003	Sunderland	A	4–0	40,188	Henry 7', Ljungberg 39', 78', 88'
3	15 August 2003	Everton	H	2–1	38,014	Henry 35' (pen.), Pirès 58'
4	24 August 2003	Middlesbrough	A	4–0	29,450	Henry 5', Gilberto Silva 13', Wiltord 22', 60'
5	27 August 2003	Aston Villa	H	2–0	38,010	Campbell 57', Henry 90'
6	31 August 2003	Manchester City	A	2–1	46,436	Wiltord 48', Ljungberg 72'
7	13 September 2003	Portsmouth	H	1–1	38,052	Henry 40' (pen.)
8	21 September 2003	Manchester United	A	0–0	67,639
9	26 September 2003	Newcastle United	H	3–2	38,112	Henry 18', 80' (pen.), Gilberto Silva 67'
10	4 October 2003	Liverpool	A	2–1	44,374	Hyypiä 31' (o.g.), Pirès 68'
11	18 October 2003	Chelsea	H	2–1	38,172	Edu 5', Henry 75'
12	26 October 2003	Charlton Athletic	A	1–1	26,660	Henry 39'
13	1 November 2003	Leeds United	A	4–1	36,491	Henry 8', 33', Pirès 18', Gilberto Silva 50'
14	8 November 2003	Tottenham Hotspur	H	2–1	38,101	Pirès 69', Ljungberg 79'
15	22 November 2003	Birmingham City	A	3–0	29,588	Ljungberg 4', Bergkamp 80', Pirès 88'
16	30 November 2003	Fulham	H	0–0	38,063
17	6 December 2003	Leicester City	A	1–1	26,660	Gilberto Silva 60'
18	14 December 2003	Blackburn Rovers	H	1–0	37,677	Bergkamp 11'
19	20 December 2003	Bolton Wanderers	A	1–1	28,003	Pirès 57'
20	26 December 2003	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	3–0	38,003	Craddock 13' (o.g.), Henry 20', 89'
21	29 December 2003	Southampton	A	1–0	32,151	Pirès 13'
22	7 January 2004	Everton	A	1–1	38,726	Kanu 29'
23	10 January 2004	Middlesbrough	H	4–1	38,117	Henry 38' (pen.), Queudrue 45' (o.g.), Pirès 57', Ljungberg 68'
24	18 January 2004	Aston Villa	A	2–0	39,380	Henry 29', 53' (pen.)
25	1 February 2004	Manchester City	H	2–1	38,103	Tarnat 7' (o.g.), Henry 83'
26	7 February 2004	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	3–1	29,392	Bergkamp 9', Henry 58', Touré 63'
27	10 February 2004	Southampton	H	2–0	38,007	Henry 31', 90'
28	21 February 2004	Chelsea	A	2–1	41,847	Vieira 15', Edu 21'
29	28 February 2004	Charlton Athletic	H	2–1	38,137	Pirès 2', Henry 4'
30	13 March 2004	Blackburn Rovers	A	2–0	28,627	Henry 57', Pirès 87'
31	20 March 2004	Bolton Wanderers	H	2–1	38,053	Pirès 16', Bergkamp 24'
32	28 March 2004	Manchester United	H	1–1	38,184	Henry 50'
33	9 April 2004	Liverpool	H	4–2	38,119	Henry 31', 50', 78', Pirès 49'
34	11 April 2004	Newcastle United	A	0–0	52,141
35	16 April 2004	Leeds United	H	5–0	38,094	Pirès 6', Henry 27', 33' (pen.), 50', 67'
36	25 April 2004	Tottenham Hotspur	A	2–2	36,097	Vieira 3', Pirès 35'
37	1 May 2004	Birmingham City	H	0–0	38,061
38	4 May 2004	Portsmouth	A	1–1	20,140	Reyes 50'
39	9 May 2004	Fulham	A	1–0	18,102	Reyes 9'
40	15 May 2004	Leicester City	H	2–1	38,419	Henry 47' (pen.), Vieira 66'
41	15 August 2004	Everton	A	4–1	35,521	Bergkamp 23', Reyes 39', Ljungberg 54', Pirès 83'
42	22 August 2004	Middlesbrough	H	5–3	37,415	Henry 25', 90', Bergkamp 54', Reyes 65', Pirès 65'
43	25 August 2004	Blackburn Rovers	H	3–0	37,496	Henry 50', Gilberto Silva 58', Reyes 79'
44	28 August 2004	Norwich City	A	4–1	23,944	Reyes 22', Henry 36', Pirès 40', Bergkamp 90'
45	11 September 2004	Fulham	A	3–0	21,681	Ljungberg 62', Knight 65' (o.g.), Reyes 71'
46	18 September 2004	Bolton Wanderers	H	2–2	37,010	Henry 31', Pirès 66'
47	25 September 2004	Manchester City	A	1–0	47,015	Cole 14'
48	2 October 2004	Charlton Athletic	H	4–0	38,103	Ljungberg 33', Henry 48', 69', Reyes 70'
49	16 October 2004	Aston Villa	H	3–1	38,137	Pirès 19', 72', Henry 45'

See also

• Perfect season

Notes

1. Before the season commenced, Wenger told reporters: "Nobody will finish above us in the league. It wouldn't surprise me if we were to go unbeaten for the whole of the season."^[9]

References

1. "The History of Preston North End". Preston North End official website.
2. Taw, Thomas (2006). Football's Twelve Apostles: The Making of The League 1886–1889. p. 17. ISBN 1-905328-09-5.
3. Hughes, Ian (2004-05-15). "Arsenal the Invincibles". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
4. "Preston North End match record: 1890". 11v11. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
5. "Deepdale". Preston North End FC. 15 February 2012.
6. Rich, Tim (9 May 2002). "Wenger's Invincibles claim grand prize in bare-knuckle title fight". The Independent. London. p. 28.
7. "Wenger hails 'shift of power'". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 May 2002. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
8. "Arsenal blow away Leeds". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 September 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
9. Clavan, Anthony (18 August 2002). "We won't lose a game". Sunday Mirror. London. p. 80.
10. "Arsenal can go unbeaten all season, says Wenger". Associated Press. CNNSI.com. 20 September 2002. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
11. "Wenger has last laugh on victory parade". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
12. Brodkin, Jon (31 October 2002). "Arsenal qualify with little celebration". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
13. "How the title was won in photos". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 May 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
14. Bose, Mihir (19 September 2003). "Ashburton Grove costing Arsenal". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
15. "Arsenal 1–2 Chelsea". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
16. "Arsenal v Middlesbrough". Getty Images. 22 August 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
17. McCarra, Kevin (23 August 2004). "Gunners have all the answers to biggest test". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
18. McCarra, Kevin (26 August 2004). "Henry launches Arsenal to record mark". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
19. "Man Utd 2–0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
20. Ridley, Ian (2 November 2003). "Henry torments poor Leeds". The Observer. London. Retrieved 19 August 2014.