Original Nike football shirt Arsenal 2003/04
Nike football shirt Arsenal 2003/04
Size: XXL (unisex)
Condition: 10/10 (used)
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Arsenal FC won the Premier League for the third time in the 2003/2004 season, without losing.
Arsenal achieved 90 points, won 26 games and drew twelve times. It was only the second and for now the last time something like this happened. In the 1888/1889 season, Preston North End already became national champions without losing. Chelsea finished second, 11 points behind. After New Year, Arsenal won ten times in a row, the winning streak was stopped by Manchester United on matchday 30. They secured a thirteenth league title on April 25, 2004, with a 2–2 draw at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur. Thierry Henry was the star of the season, the Frenchman scored 30 goals in the Premier League and scored 39 goals in all competitions.
Arsenal was able to hold out longer in the UEFA Champions League and reached the quarter-finals, where Celta de Vigo eliminated the club. In both the FA Cup (by Manchester United) and the League Cup (by Middlesbrough), they were only eliminated in the semi-finals. The German Jens Lehmann was brought in as a replacement for David Seaman, but otherwise coach Arsène Wenger was able to keep his core of players together before the start to achieve an unlikely season. Sixteen-year-old Spanish midfielder Cesc Fàbregas was added to the first team this season. Dennis Bergkamp (since 1995) was still there, as was nestor Martin Keown (since 1993), who was now 38 years old. Ray Parlour, like Keown an Arsenal youth product, played his final season at Highbury. Parlor moved on from the youth academy in 1989 and after 15 years moved to Middlesbrough, the last destination of his career.
It was also the last season for central defender Keown, but he did not leave for relegated Leicester City without playing a leading role in the Battle of Old Trafford on September 21, 2003. That tough match ended 0–0 and meant that Arsenal were unbeaten stayed after six matchdays. However, the match mainly went down in history as the day on which Ruud van Nistelrooij could have ended Arsenal's unbeaten run from the penalty spot in the 94th minute, which dated back to the 2002/2003 season. However, Van Nistelrooy kicked the crossbar, while the Dutchman was already playing without confidence after two missed penalties.
In the end they would not lose a match, which strengthens the legend. Patrick Vieira received what observers considered a questionable red card ten minutes before the whistle. At Martin Keown the fuses blew. He accused Van Nistelrooy of being a diver. Several players were fined by FA following their actions.
This season's core of players and coaching staff are known as The Invincibles.