BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal

<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://news.bbc.co.uk:80/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm","20090328050237","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1238216557"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title> BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal | Arsenal the Invincibles </title> <meta name="keywords" content="BBC, Sport, BBC Sport, bbc.co.uk, world, uk, international, foreign, british, online, service"/> <meta name="OriginalPublicationDate" content="2004/05/15 15:50:45"/> <meta name="UKFS_URL" content="/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm"/> <meta name="IFS_URL" content="/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm"/> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1"/> <meta name="Headline" content="Arsenal the Invincibles"/> <meta name="Section" content="Arsenal"/> <meta name="Description" content="BBC Sport looks at the key moments in Arsenal's incredible unbeaten season."/>  <map name="bbc_sport_story" id="bbc_sport_story"> <area alt="BBC Sport" coords="1,1,119,34" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport"/> </map> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20090328050237cs_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/css/styles_5.css"/> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237js_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/js/sol3.js" language="JavaScript"></script> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20090328050237cs_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/css/stats.css"> <style type="text/css" media="all">@import '/web/20090328050237cs_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/css/screen/shared/shared.css';</style> <style type="text/css" media="all">@import '/web/20090328050237cs_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/css/toolbar_ukfs.css';</style> <script type="text/javascript">  </script>  <script src="/web/20090328050237js_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/js/newsi/latest/newsi.js?9" type="text/javascript"></script>   <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237js_/http://www.bbc.co.uk/glow/gloader.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237js_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/js/app/shared/bbc_fmtj.js"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237js_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/js/app/tracker/tracker.js?v2" language="JavaScript"></script> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000" marginwidth="0" topmargin="0" marginheight="0" leftmargin="0"> <style type="text/css" media="all"> @import "/web/20090328050237cs_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/css/toolbar_banner.css"; </style> <a name="top" id="top"></a>  <div id="ift-toolbar" class="ift-sport"> <div id="ift-wrap"> <div id="ift-accesskeys"><a href="#startcontent" accesskey="2"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" alt="Skip to main content" border="0"/></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/accesskeys/keys.shtml" accesskey="0"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" alt="Access keys help" border="0"/></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/a-z/" accesskey="3"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" alt="A-Z index" border="0"/></a></div> <div id="ift-logo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/home/i/" accesskey="1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/toolbar_logo.gif" alt="BBC logo"/></a></div> <div id="ift-tabs"><ul><li><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/text/-/home/i/">Home</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/news/2/hi/">News</a></div></li><li id="ift-current"><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/news/sport2/hi/">Sport</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/radio/i/">Radio</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/tv/i/">TV</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/weather/i/">Weather</a></div></li><li><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/toolbar/i/-/worldservice/languages/">Languages</a></div></li></ul><br class="ift-clear"/></div> <div id="ift-search"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <input type="hidden" name="scope" value="all"/> <input type="hidden" name="edition" value="i"/> <input type="text" id="ift-searchbox" name="q" size="10" title="BBC Search" accesskey="4"/> <input type="image" id="ift-searchbutton" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/v3_tb/search_button.gif" name="go" value="go" alt="Search"/> </form> </div><br class="ift-clear"/> </div> </div>  <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="760"> <tr> <td class="ba"> <div class="pvl"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/text_only.stm" class="bl"><b>Low Graphics version</b></a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/shared/hi/change_edition-sport.stm" class="bl">Change Edition</a></div> </td> <td align="right" class="ba"> <div class="pvr"><span id="hp" style="behavior:url(/web/20090328050237im_/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm#default#homepage)"></span><script language="Javascript" type="text/javascript">  </script></a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/2809419.stm" class="bl">Help</a></div> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://stats.bbc.co.uk/o.gif?~RS~s~RS~Sport~RS~t~RS~HighWeb_Legacy~RS~i~RS~3713537~RS~p~RS~42303~RS~u~RS~/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm~RS~r~RS~(none)~RS~a~RS~Domestic~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~36~RS~" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>  </td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="760"><tr><td><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/nav/v3_banners/bbcsport_logo.gif" width="121" height="35" border="0" align="left" hspace="0" alt="" usemap="#bbc_sport_story"/><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/nav/v3_banners/football_banner.gif" width="436" height="35" border="0" align="left" hspace="0" alt=""/> <a href="javascript: void launchAVConsoleV3();"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/nav/v3_banners/bbcsport_watchlisten2.gif" width="203" height="35" border="0" alt="" usemap="#banner_watchlisten"/></a><br/></td></tr></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="760"> <tr> <td width="121" valign="top"> <div class="lhs"> <div class="lhsl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/default.stm">Sport Homepage</a> </div> <div class="lhssp"> </div> <div class="lhsl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/default.stm">Football</a> </div> <div class="lhssp"> </div> <div class="lhsl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/default.stm">My Club</a> </div> <div class="lhssp"> </div> <div class="lhssq"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/default.stm">Arsenal</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/live_text/default.stm">Live Text</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/results/default.stm">Results</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/fixtures/default.stm">Fixtures</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/tables/default.stm">Tables</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/club_stats/default.stm">Club Stats</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/squad_profiles/default.stm">Squad Profiles</a> </div> <div class="lhsssl"> <a class="lhsnl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/squad_selector/default.stm">Squad Selector</a> </div> </div> <div class="lhs"> <div class="mvb"> <div class="lhsdl">---------------</div> <div class="lhsssl"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/sport1/football/int/lhn/-/http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sport/commentaries.shtml" class="lhsnl">Five Live>></a></div> <div class="lhsdl">---------------</div>  <div class="lhsssl"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb1/-/http://www.bbc.co.uk/email/sport" class="lhsnl">Daily E-mail</a></div> <div class="lhsssl"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb2/-/sport1/hi/2823593.stm" class="lhsnl">Mobiles</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="mvt"> <div class="lhsl"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb3/-/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/default.stm" class="lhsnl">Fun and Games</a></div> <div class="lhsl"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb4/-/sport1/hi/question_of_sport/default.stm" class="lhsnl">Question of Sport</a></div> </div> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/openurl.pl" method="post" name="drop"> <div class="lhsfm"> <div class="lhsnlp">CHOOSE A SPORT</div> <select name="link" style="font-family : Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size : 11px; width:108px" onchange="if (this.options[selectedIndex].value != '') location.href=this.options[selectedIndex].value"> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/">Select</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/">----------</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb5/-/sport1/hi/football/default.stm">Football</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb6/-/sport1/hi/cricket/default.stm">Cricket</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb7/-/sport1/hi/rugby_union/default.stm">Rugby U</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb8/-/sport1/hi/rugby_league/default.stm">Rugby L</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb9/-/sport1/hi/tennis/default.stm">Tennis</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb10/-/sport1/hi/golf/default.stm">Golf</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb11/-/sport1/hi/motorsport/default.stm">Motorsport</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb12/-/sport1/hi/boxing/default.stm">Boxing</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb13/-/sport1/hi/athletics/default.stm">Athletics</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb14/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/default.stm">Snooker</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb15/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/default.stm">Racing</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb16/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/default.stm">Cycling</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb17/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/default.stm">Disability Sport</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb18/-/sport1/hi/other_sports/default.stm">Other</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport">------</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb19/-/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/default.stm">N Ireland</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb20/-/sport1/hi/scotland/default.stm">Scotland</option> <option value="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb21/-/sport1/hi/wales/default.stm">Wales</option> </select> </div> <div class="lhsgo"><input type="image" value="go" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/nav/v3_bbci/go.gif" width="20" height="16" align="right" border="0" alt="Go"/> </div> </form> <div class="pvtb"> <div class="lhsnlp">RELATED BBC SITES</div> <ul id="lhsOtherSites"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb22/-/1/hi/default.stm" title="BBC News" class="lhsnl">NEWS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/sport/int/lhnfb23/-/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather" title="BBC Weather" class="lhsnl">WEATHER</a></li> </ul> </div> <script language="JavaScript">getRssUrl()</script> </td> <td width="10"><img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="10" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/></td> <td width="629" valign="top"> <table width="629" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="629"> <a name="startcontent"></a><span class="ds"><span class="lu">Last Updated: </span>Saturday, 15 May, 2004, 15:50 GMT 16:50 UK </span> <img height="2" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="2" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/> <div class="mvb"><img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="629" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/v3/dot_629.gif"/></div> <div class="mvtb"><table border="0" width="416" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="213"><a onclick="popUpPage('https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=370,height=445','Mailer')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm" target="Mailer"> <img height="11" hspace="3" align="left" vspace="0" border="0" width="17" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/v3/email.gif"/> E-mail this to a friend </a></td> <td width="203"><a onclick="popUpPage('https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,menubar=yes,width=600,height=445','Printer')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm" target="Printer"> <img height="11" hspace="3" align="left" vspace="0" border="0" width="17" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/v3/print.gif"/> Printable version </a></td> </tr></table></div> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="629" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td colspan="3"><div class="mxb"><div class="sh">Arsenal the Invincibles<br/></div></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="416"> <font size="2">   <div class="mvb"> <table border="0" width="416" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td valign="bottom"> <div class="mvb"> <span class="byl"> By Ian Hughes </span> <br/> <span class="byd"> BBC Sport </span> </div> </td> </tr> </table><img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="416" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/999999.gif"/><br/> </div>  <b> Arsenal have become the first team since Preston North End in 1888-89 to go through an entire season unbeaten. </b> <p> Here, BBC Sport looks at the crucial encounters in their amazing season. <p> <div class="ch1"> <b>ARSENAL 1-1 PORTSMOUTH - 13 AUGUST</b> </div> <p> Five games into the season, Arsenal's Highbury home could have been described more fortuitous than fortress as the Gunners wobbled but didn't quite fall down. <p> Portsmouth deservedly took the lead through Tottenham old boy Teddy Sheringham and were making a mockery of Arsenal's 100% start to the campaign. <p> But before half-time, Arsene Wenger's men drew level in controversial circumstances. <p> French winger Robert Pires tumbled to the ground after making slight contact with Dejan Stefanovic to earn his side a penalty. <p> The debatable decision became even more contentious as Thierry Henry eventually scored after the spot-kick was retaken. <p> After the game, Pompey boss Harry Redknapp fumed: "It was embarrassing. I'm not saying that Pires purposefully dived but it was never a penalty. <p> "Up until then, we were in control of the game." <p>  <div class="arr"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3194193.stm" class="bodl"> Match report </a></div>  <p> <div class="ch1"> <b>MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 ARSENAL - 21 AUGUST</b> </div> <p> In 2002, Arsenal clinched the Premiership title with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford, last term they surrendered the match 2-0, and eventually their title. <p> This season, Old Trafford was once again a battlefield and though the teams fought a stalemate, Arsenal delivered a telling blow. <p> Not least to Ruud van Nistelrooy - both physically and mentally - after the Dutchman missed an injury-time penalty. <p>  <table cellspacing="0" align="right" border="0" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img height="152" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="203" alt="Martin Keown squares up to Ruud van Nistelrooy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40163000/jpg/_40163887_keown203.jpg"/> <div class="cap">Martin Keown taunts Ruud van Nistelrooy</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>  Van Nistelrooy had earlier clashed with Patrick Vieira and the Gunners skipper was sent off for his second booking, which incensed his team-mates. <p> And when the United striker smashed his spot-kick against the bar, the beautiful game turned ugly. <p> On the final whistle, Van Nistelrooy was buffeted by a number of Arsenal players. <p>  <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" align="right" border="0"> <tr> <td width="5"><img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="5" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/></td> <td class="sibtbg"> <div class="miiib">  <div class="arr"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3228349.stm" class=""> Arsenal players banned </a></div>  </div> </td> </tr> </table>  <p> Lauren, Martin Keown, Ashley Cole and Ray Parlour were all later fined and suspended after pleading guilty to improper conduct. <p> Their actions can not be condoned, but the episode demonstrated the togetherness, resolve and determination of Wenger's side. <p> The Gunners appeared galvanised by the incident and it was evident the hunger from their 2002 Double-winning season was back. <p>  <div class="arr"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3084372.stm" class="bodl"> Match report </a></div>  <p> <div class="ch1"> <b>CHELSEA 1-2 ARSENAL - 21 FEBRUARY</b> </div> <p>  <table cellspacing="0" align="right" border="0" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img height="270" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="203" alt="Edu is congratulated after scoring against Chelsea" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40153000/jpg/_40153223_edu203.jpg"/> <div class="cap">Edu is congratulated after scoring against Chelsea</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>  Arsenal went seven points clear at the top of the table after this victory, but the win initially looked in doubt after a terrible start. <p> Eidur Gujohndsen put Chelsea ahead after just 27 seconds as the Blues looked to avenge their FA Cup defeat at Highbury six days previously. <p> But Arsenal's self-confident swagger remained and they drew level through a superbly-worked Vieira strike in the 15th minute. <p> Edu hooked in the winner just six minutes later as the Gunners claimed another come-from-behind win against their title rivals. <p> At Highbury in October, Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini made an horrendous error to gift Thierry Henry the winner after Hernan Crespo had given Chelsea an early lead. <p> The two games showed Arsenal had the edge over Roman Abramovich's expensively-assembled side - but only just. <p>  <div class="arr"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3496743.stm" class="bodl"> Match report </a></div>  <p> <div class="ch1"> <b>ARSENAL 4-2 LIVERPOOL - 9 APRIL</b> </div> <p> Having just been dumped out of the FA Cup and the Champions League, Arsenal faced a true test of their mettle. <p> At half time, Liverpool led 2-1 and nervous minds around Highbury began to fill with memories of last season's slump which ruined Arsenal's title defence. <p> But Henry and Pires soon quashed those fears when they scored a goal each in a two-minute spell just after the break to put Arsenal ahead. <p> Henry completed his hat-trick on 78 minutes to ensure Arsenal restored their seven-point lead at the Premiership summit. <p> Henry's second goal was a breathtaking moment of genius, capping an attacking team performance Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier labelled "stunning". <p> He added: "They showed why they are unbeaten in the league." <p> However, Liverpool should have defeated Arsenal at Anfield in October after taking the lead and completely outplaying the Gunners in the first half. <p> A Sami Hyppia own-goal rescued Arsenal, and a wonderful Pires strike sealed an unlikely win. <p>  <div class="arr"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3574331.stm" class="bodl"> Match report </a></div>  <p> <div class="ch1"> <b>TOTTENHAM 2-2 ARSENAL - 25 APRIL</b> </div> <p>  <table cellspacing="0" align="right" border="0" width="203" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td> <div> <img height="152" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="203" alt="Arsenal celebrate winning the title at White Hart Lane" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40153000/jpg/_40153165_arsenal_203.jpg"/> <div class="cap">Arsenal celebrate winning the title at White Hart Lane</div> </div> </td></tr> </table>  <p> In 1971, Arsenal were crowned league champions at the home of their bitter rivals Spurs and 33 years on they did it again. <p> Chelsea's draw at Newcastle earlier in the day meant Arsenal needed only a draw to seal the Premiership title. <p> And if they had any pre-match nerves, they didn't last long as Vieira put Arsenal in front after only three minutes. <p> It was a goal typical of the panache and fluency displayed by his side all season and a message that Arsenal would not be halted. <p> However, a brave Spurs display in the second half saw them claw back a two-goal deficit to deny their north London neighbours victory. <p> But it didn't stop Arsenal winning the title - and they stayed on course to record an historic unbeaten season. <p>  <div class="arr"><a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3659829.stm" class="bodl"> Match report </a></div>   </font> <br/><br clear="all"/> <div class="mvtb"><table border="0" width="416" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="213"><a onclick="popUpPage('https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,width=370,height=445','Mailer')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/email/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm" target="Mailer"> <img height="11" hspace="3" align="left" vspace="0" border="0" width="17" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/v3/email.gif"/> E-mail this to a friend </a></td> <td width="203"><a onclick="popUpPage('https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm','status=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,resizable=yes,menubar=yes,width=600,height=445','Printer')" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm" target="Printer"> <img height="11" hspace="3" align="left" vspace="0" border="0" width="17" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/v3/print.gif"/> Printable version </a></td> </tr></table></div> <div class="mvtb"> </div><br/> </td> <td width="10" valign="top"><img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="10" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/></td> <td width="203" valign="top"> <div class="o"> <div class="nlp"> <a class="lp" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/default.stm">ARSENAL</a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/ArticleSearchPhrase?phrase=Arsenal&contenttype=-1&articlesortby=Rating&show=20"> Your say - 606 </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=2734&links"> Weather </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/sport"> BBC London sport </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.arsenal.com/"> Official club website </a> </div> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="5" alt="" border="0" vspace="0" class="" hspace="0"><br/> </div> <img height="10" width="1" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/><br/> <div class="puffbox"> <div class="o"> <div class="mph"> ARSENAL'S UNBEATEN RUN </div> <img height="5" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="1" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/><br/> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm"><img height="66" hspace="0" align="left" vspace="0" border="0" width="66" alt="Martin Keown squares up to Ruud van Nistelrooy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40163000/jpg/_40163863_keown66.jpg"/></a> <img height="66" hspace="0" align="left" vspace="0" border="0" width="5" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm"> <b> Key moments </b> </a> <br/> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713537.stm"> What were the decisive games in Arsenal's season? <br clear="all"/> </a> <img height="5" hspace="0" vspace="0" border="0" width="1" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/><br/> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3713535.stm"> Marks out of 10 </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3712055.stm"> Lawro on their new defence </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3714791.stm"> Greatest ever? </a> </div> <img height="1" hspace="0" vspace="3" border="0" width="203" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/cccccc.gif"/><br/> <div class="nlp"> THE TITLE TRIUMPH </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3659375.stm"> Alan Hansen on Wenger </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3655481.stm"> All-time Arsenal champions XI </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3652645.stm"> Setting new standards </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3646149.stm"> How Arsenal can improve </a> </div> <img height="2" hspace="0" vspace="3" border="0" width="203" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/339999.gif"/><br/> </div> <img height="10" width="1" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/><br/> </div> <div class="mvb"> <div class="nlp"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/default.stm">ALSO IN THIS SECTION</a> </div> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7967834.stm"> Adebayor given Arsenal go-ahead </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7961119.stm"> Togo coach set to pick Adebayor </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/school_report/7964578.stm"> Keown reports for school </a> </div> <div class="arr"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7937084.stm"> Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal </a> </div> <script language="JavaScript">getRssUrlStory('/rss/sportonline_world_edition/football/teams/a/arsenal/rss.xml')</script> <img height="10" width="1" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif"/><br/> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table>  <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="760" class="fs"> <tr> <td><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="131" height="1" border="0" alt=""/></td> <td><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="629" height="1" border="0" alt=""/></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="fo"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="15" border="0" alt=""/></td> <td class="fo">  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/sport2/int/footer/-/http://www.bbc.co.uk/email/sport" class="sel">E-mail services</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/sport2/int/footer/-/sport2/hi/2823593.stm" class="sel">Sport on mobiles/PDAs</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt=""/><br/> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/shared/bsp/hi/services/copyright/html/default.stm"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/img/nav/v3_bbc_copyright_footer_2009.gif" width="63" height="7" border="0" vspace="3" hspace="5" alt=""/></a></td> <td valign="top"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt=""/><br/><a href="#top">Back to top</a><br/><br/> </td> </tr></table>  <div id="f3"><div> <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/default.stm">Sport Homepage</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/default.stm">Football</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/default.stm">Cricket</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/default.stm">Rugby Union</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/default.stm">Rugby League</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/default.stm">Tennis</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/golf/default.stm">Golf</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/default.stm">Motorsport</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/default.stm">Boxing</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/athletics/default.stm">Athletics</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/default.stm">Snooker</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/default.stm">Horse Racing</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/default.stm">Cycling</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/default.stm">Disability sport</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/default.stm">Olympics 2012</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tv_and_radio/sport_relief/default.stm">Sport Relief</a> | <a class="fl" href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/default.stm">Other sport...</a> <br/><br/> </div></div>  <div class="f"> <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/default.stm" class="fl">BBC Sport Academy >></a> | <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/default.stm" class="fl">BBC News >></a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/" class="fl">BBC Weather >></a> </div> <div class="f"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/" class="fl">About the BBC</a> | <a href="/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/2823295.stm" class="fl">News sources</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/" class="fl">Privacy & Cookies Policy</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/3701040.stm" class="fl">Contact us</a> </div>  <map name="index_banner" id="index_banner"> <area alt="banner" coords="1,2,185,34" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/default.stm" accesskey="5"/> <area alt="watch listen" coords="551,5,757,33" href="javascript: void launchAVConsoleV3();"/> </map>  <map name="bbc_sport_story" id="bbc_sport_story"> <area alt="bbc sport" coords="1,1,119,34" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090328050237/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/default.stm" accesskey="5"/> </map>  <map name="banner_watchlisten" id="banner_watchlisten"> <area alt="watch listen" coords="0,6,201,33" href="javascript: void launchAVConsoleV3();"/> </map>   <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"></script> <noscript> <img src="//web.archive.org/web/20090328050237im_/http://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?ci=bbc&cg=0" alt=""> </noscript>  <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">  </script> <br/> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal | Arsenal the Invincibles