Arsenal F.C. season 2003-04

This page details Arsenal Football Club's 2003-04 season.

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The 2003-04 Season was an historic one for Arsenal F.C. and English Football. For the first time since the late 19th Century, a club went the whole league season unbeaten. Arsenal, obviously, being the greatest team, won the Premier League in this season, but there was disappointment in the cup competitions, as, despite many excellent performances, including a Thierry Henry inspired 5-1 away to Inter Milan, they lost in all three competitions, to Manchester United in the FA Cup Semi-Final at Villa Park, to Chelsea FC in the first all-English UEFA Champions League tie in history, after a dramatic winner by Wayne Bridge won the Quarter Final late on, and to Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup.

Thierry Henry was the star of the season, with 30 goals in the Premier League alone, and, with the aid of the aforementioned performance in Milan, became arguably the Greatest Footballer in The World at the time, which was a triumph for Coach Arsene Wenger as much as the player himself. Other players such as Freddie Ljungberg, captain Patrick Vieira and Attacking Midfielder Robert Pires were almost as influential, as they had major roles to play in this historic season for Arsenal.

While the unbeaten run was remarkable, it came down to no little fortune. Early in season, during their away fixture to Manchester United, Ruud Van Nistelrooy hit a penalty kick against the crossbar, much to the delight of Martin Keown, and a draw preserved their unbeaten run, which continued until the same fixture the next season, where Van Nistelrooy banished the demons of the previous season with a crucial penalty in a 2-0 win.