On this day in Arsenal history – 2004: Unbeatables 49th and final game without defeat

When Arsenal conceded the 2002/03 title race with a 3-2 defeat at home to Leeds in May 2003, few Arsenal fans would have predicted what was to come the following season. The Gunners were pipped to the title by Manchester United in 2003, but they made up for it the following year by going the entire 2003/04 campaign unbeaten. With 2 wins at the end of the 2002/03 season against Southampton and Sunderland, Arsenal were 40 games unbeaten heading into the 2004/05 Premier League season.

Arsenal had the chance to equal the English football record set by Nottingham Forest in 1978 of 42 games without defeat. After cruising to a 4-1 win away to Everton on the opening day of the season, the Gunners nearly fell at the final hurdle, in the 42nd game at home to Middlesbrough. Arsenal went 1-0 up before Middlesbrough found themselves 3-1 up, but Arsenal rallied back to win 5-3. Having equaled the record, Arsenal made history in the next game, beating Blackburn 3-0 at Highbury to extend their unbeaten run to 43.

Victories against Norwich, Fulham, Man City and Charlton as well as a 2-2 draw at home against Bolton meant that Arsenal were at 48 games unbeaten. They were now close to reaching a half century of matches undefeated.

Arsenal’s next opponents were Aston Villa at Highbury. They had another scare on this day when Lee Hendrie gave the visitors a shock lead with just three minutes played. Some impressive saves from Stefan Postma kept Arsenal at bay for a while, but when Thierry Henry was fouled by Mark Delaney in the penalty area, Arsenal were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Robert Pires to cooly slot in the spot kick. 1-1.

Jose Antonio Reyes sent Thierry Henry in the clear and the Frenchman put the Gunners in front. Once that went in, the result was never in doubt. Postma kept Villa mathematically in with a shout of getting a point, but when Pires’ curled effort found the net in the 72nd minute, the Gunners were one game away from 50 unbeaten.

As it turned out, Arsenal didn’t make it to 50 without defeat. A dodgy dive by Wayne Rooney helped Manchester United on their way to a 2-0 win over the Unbeatables at Old Trafford, but the memory of this great side lives on to this day. Their record has come close to being broken a couple of times (Chelsea and Huddersfield), but it has yet to be broken. Plus if a team below the Premier League breaks it, it will be Arsenal that are remembered still. It will take a long time for it to be broken, but records are there to be broken. Hopefully Arsenal are the team that breaks it!.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run ended at 49.