The Invincibles

The 2002/03 season began with Arsenal as defending champions, having won the Premier League
and the League Cup in the previous season.

Arsene Wenger sought improvements in the Champions League in 02/03, and was tasked with a
difficult decision of who to make captain, after the retirement of club legend Tony Adams.

Intuition

He went with Patrick Vieira, the French defender-turned-defensive midfielder who was a rock in the
centre of midfield; a decision that would pay dividends later.

He’d turned Frenchman Thierry Henry from a winger, to a star striker, who’d been the best player
the past season.

In terms of defensive cover, he signed Kolo Toure, another shining example of Wenger’s innate
ability to sense talent, and mould him into a defensive beast at the back.

He was able to look at a person’s strengths, weaknesses, judge their blindspots, and help them
shape and improve themselves.

Ambition and Belief in One’s Strengths

While the 02/03 season was seen as a failure by most, due to finishing second to Manchester United,
Wenger remarked that the team was consistent, and made a bold claim – “It’s not impossible to
go through the season unbeaten and I can’t see why it’s shocking to say that.” “Every
manager thinks that but they don’t say it because they’re scared it would be ridiculous.”

People mocked him for saying that.

03/04 season

The season started with the acquisition of German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann from
Borussia Dortmund, to replace David Seaman. While most people perceived him to be
an errant, impulsive player, Wenger saw the quality within.

Roman Abramovich, a Russian oligarch had just bought Chelsea FC, and “parked his
Russian tanks on our lawn and is firing £50 notes at us."

Arsenal had relatively lower wealth than Manchester United and Chelsea, and they were feeling
the pressure from investors, the media, and most importantly, their fans, to deliver some
silverware.

It was said that Arsene had to trust youth players like Senderos, Aliadiere, etc.

Sol Campbell, another CB, believed Arsenal had the squad strength for a League and Cup
Double.

Arsenal started brightly in pre-season, winning all but one.

They lost the Community Shield, due to lack of match fitness.

They started the Premier League disastrously, with their best defender being sent off.

At the end of four matches though, they were top of the table, 3 points ahead of Manchester
United.

Later, there were diving accusations levelled at players, but the team held strong

The next match was the defining moment of the Invincibles season. The Battle of Old Trafford.

Vieira had been sent off at the 80th minute, and Van Nistelrooy, United’s striker, had been
awarded a penalty in the 90th minute. If he scored, the Invincibles would never have happened.

He struck the bar, and was immediately mobbed by Arsenal players. Several received
suspensions for 1-4 matches.

Despite this, Arsenal won the next match.

Vieira, the club captain got injured for 2 months. Arsenal were in trouble now.

However, Ray Parlour stepped up, the skill of Henry, and the youth & pace of Aliadiere ensured
they finished first after the first 10 games.

By November, they’d broken a League record by remaining unbeaten for 13 games.

But Wenger wanted more.

At the end of the year, Arsenal had gone half the matches (19) unbeaten, and were in second
place on the table. According to The Times, they had begun to "establish an aura of invincibility".

After 22 matches, they were back on top, still unbeaten.

Wenger in his post-match press conference played down the record, and said of the unbeaten
run: "You need a little bit of luck and mental qualities."

Touré's transition into a defender was highlighted in The Times football supplement.

In March, Arsenal’s squad was stretched thin by playing several matches, and their
performances were affected. But they still managed to win/draw.

It was a reminder of the old maxim that championships are won by teams who can pick up points
when they are not playing well.

In March, Manchester United, visited Arsenal. Under tense conditions, the match ended in a
draw. Their manager, Alex Ferguson said, "They'll (Arsenal) go on to win the league now – I'm
sure of that. They are playing with great determination … a very strong team, so should win the
league really."

The game at White Hart Lane, with Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal’s fiercest rivals, was to be the
decider of the League Title. Arsenal players were advised not to celebrate, if they drew or won,
as the atmosphere was fragile.

The game ended 2-2, and Arsenal had just won the Premier League.

At the end, Wenger spoke to the squad, and told them that their final 4 games, were to be played
with the same intensity of not more.

Some players looked at him as if he was crazy.

He replied, ‘Do you want to win? Or do you want to be immortal?’

His vision and drive ensured Arsenal went the whole season unbeaten. Invincible.
Played 38, won 26, drawn 12, lost exactly none. 

Amy Lawrence wrote, "Arsenal's achievement may not make them 'great' in everyone's opinion –
those who define greatness only by European Cups, back-to-back titles, and triple cartwheels on
the way to every goal – but it is staggering in its own right.’

This run would continue to 49 games, ended at Old Trafford, by a Wazza goal.

This Arsenal defied perception, biases, played to their strengths, adapted, were creative, and
were successful through them. And the architect of it all, Arsene Wenger’s intuition, passion for
developing players facilitated it all.

Le Professeur. Le-gend.