The Invincibles in English football
The Invincible word in English football came from the year 1888-89, where Preston North End FC became the first team to remain unbeaten in the league & in the FA Cup, that year Preston won the FA Cup without conceding any goal. Preston legend Tom Finney wrote in his biography that 'Preston club had set incredible standards and the Proud Preston team has became immortalised as the 'Old Invincibles'. Many sources called this team 'The Invincibles'.
In 1888-89 Football League season there were twelve teams, Preston North End has played 22 games, In which four matches were drawn & they didn't lose any games. With 40 points they became the League Champions. John Goodall who used play for England and Preston North End as Center Forward scored 21 goals & became the Top scorers of the 1888-89 season. And in 1889 FA Cup Final Preston North End won 3-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers and made it 'The Double'.
In the newly created English Premier League. Arsenal became the second team in English football to achieve The Invincibles tag. In 2003-04 Premier League season Arsenal remained unbeaten & won the premier league title. Arsenal played 38 games, won 26 and drew 12. Arsenal defeated Leicester City FC to complete the unbeaten season. Arsene Wenger was the manager of the team & he composed the team as attacking formations like 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1. The Arsenal team of 2003-04 was mostly recognised as attacking genius. They had famous players like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg & more. All Arsenal players were at peak power at that time, and Thierry Henry was the top scorer of 2003-04 season with 30 goals and won PFA players of the year award of 2004.
Attacking Arsenal team always had striker combination of Thierry Henry and Rober Pires, who scored 14 goals in that season. Henry, Pires & Ljungberg didn't just counter-attack but also backtracked to turn the ball over. In the midfield, Patrick Vieira & Freddie Ljungberg played in boxed the centre. In the defence, they had solid skilful players like Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure. Team Manager Arsene Wenger not only recreated the Arsenal team but also introduced a new type of training, fitness and players dieting regime. It influenced other team managers to go for similar discipline in their football club. Arsene Wenger also brought new players in the team which no one ever heard of and making them as an international talent. He brought Toure from Ivorian Club for £150,000 and made him Central Defender from Midfielder. Also brought Ljungberg from Halmstads in Sweden for £3 million. At times he was also compared with Sir Alex Ferguson. Before starting 2003-04 season, Arsene Wenger said in a press conference that 'he wanted his team to go through a season undefeated' and many people mocked him and later that season he has guided his team to footballing immortality.
Nottingham Forest's who had an unbeaten record of 42 matches stood for 26 years, and Arsenal equalled that record in the starting of August 2004 ( 2004/05 season). Later that season the winning streak went on to 49 games until they lost against Manchester United in October 2004. But the defeat did not harm to Arsenal team because The Invincible will never be forgotten.
In 1888-89 Football League season there were twelve teams, Preston North End has played 22 games, In which four matches were drawn & they didn't lose any games. With 40 points they became the League Champions. John Goodall who used play for England and Preston North End as Center Forward scored 21 goals & became the Top scorers of the 1888-89 season. And in 1889 FA Cup Final Preston North End won 3-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers and made it 'The Double'.
In the newly created English Premier League. Arsenal became the second team in English football to achieve The Invincibles tag. In 2003-04 Premier League season Arsenal remained unbeaten & won the premier league title. Arsenal played 38 games, won 26 and drew 12. Arsenal defeated Leicester City FC to complete the unbeaten season. Arsene Wenger was the manager of the team & he composed the team as attacking formations like 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1. The Arsenal team of 2003-04 was mostly recognised as attacking genius. They had famous players like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljungberg & more. All Arsenal players were at peak power at that time, and Thierry Henry was the top scorer of 2003-04 season with 30 goals and won PFA players of the year award of 2004.
Attacking Arsenal team always had striker combination of Thierry Henry and Rober Pires, who scored 14 goals in that season. Henry, Pires & Ljungberg didn't just counter-attack but also backtracked to turn the ball over. In the midfield, Patrick Vieira & Freddie Ljungberg played in boxed the centre. In the defence, they had solid skilful players like Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure. Team Manager Arsene Wenger not only recreated the Arsenal team but also introduced a new type of training, fitness and players dieting regime. It influenced other team managers to go for similar discipline in their football club. Arsene Wenger also brought new players in the team which no one ever heard of and making them as an international talent. He brought Toure from Ivorian Club for £150,000 and made him Central Defender from Midfielder. Also brought Ljungberg from Halmstads in Sweden for £3 million. At times he was also compared with Sir Alex Ferguson. Before starting 2003-04 season, Arsene Wenger said in a press conference that 'he wanted his team to go through a season undefeated' and many people mocked him and later that season he has guided his team to footballing immortality.
Nottingham Forest's who had an unbeaten record of 42 matches stood for 26 years, and Arsenal equalled that record in the starting of August 2004 ( 2004/05 season). Later that season the winning streak went on to 49 games until they lost against Manchester United in October 2004. But the defeat did not harm to Arsenal team because The Invincible will never be forgotten.
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