Teams of the Decade #9: Arsenal 2001-04
Amongst the universal praise for Arsenal’s incredible unbeaten 2003/04 season, their achievements of two seasons before are often overlooked. In that season they became the first team in modern times to go the whole season unbeaten away from home (equalled, obviously, by themselves two years later), and they also became the only side in history to score in every league game that season. In addition, they won the FA Cup to achieve the double.
They probably should have won the league in 2002/03 – they were the best team that season, but showed the first signs of the lack of resolve that has troubled the side ever since. They made up for it in 2003/04, with an incredible P38 W28 D10 L0 record that seems all the more astonishing six years later, with the big Premiership clubs losing games all over the place.
It was a fairly similar side both seasons. The front four remained intact, and in its own way, this was perhaps an early example of a strikerless formation. Dennis Bergkamp dropped into space whilst Thierry Henry drifted to the left when Arsenal didn’t have possession, making Arsenal incredibly dangerous on the counter-attack. Additionally, the wingers made outside-to-inside runs, with Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg almost reinventing the wide midfield role with their incredible goalscoring records. Patrick Vieira was a more dynamic player than he is remembered as – with a more defensive partner in Gilberto, he often looked to join the front players and possessed too many offensive qualities to be regarded as a purely ‘defensive’ midfielder.
The most interesting thing about Arsenal’s defence is that none were defenders when Arsene Wenger first set eyes on them. Ashley Cole was a promising forward in the Arsenal youth system, Lauren was a central midfielder for Mallorca, whilst Kolo Toure was a versatile player who played most often in an advanced midfield position. But Wenger converted all of them to defenders, assuring Arsenal’s ball-playing ability was evident throughout the side.
And equally, Arsenal’s defensive work started from the front. Henry prevented the right-back advancing and always pressed high up the pitch, Bergkamp dropped into a space so deep it took one central midfielder out of the equation going forward, and both Pires and Ljungberg were genuinely excellent at covering their full-back.
Although Wenger described it as a 4-4-2, it was perhaps a lopsided 4-2-3-1 in possession, and extremely difficult to defend against because of the movement from attacking players and full-backs in advanced positions. The left side of Cole-Pires-Henry was probably the strongest ‘flank’ any side possessed all decade, and because opponents were so concerned with that, it was amazing how often Ljungberg found space by cutting in from the right, and how often the underrated Lauren had time to get crosses in.
Finally, it must be said that this side did play wonderful football. It’s become a bit of a cliche to say this about Arsenal, especially when in recent years it’s been prefixed with “Arsenal don’t win trophies but they…” but to go a season unbeaten whilst playing expansive, attacking football is incredible.
A video of a Thierry Henry blockbuster would be most people’s choice to sum up this Arsenal side, but perhaps two incredible team goals finished off by unlikely scorers demonstrates their dominance better.
Teams of the Decade #9: Arsenal 2001-04
The Ashley Cole goal is my favourite Arsenal team goal so well done for digging that out as not many remember it. But the 4-4-2, Wenger felt was the essence of reason as 60% of the players covered 60% of the space. The fact it morphed almost to a 4-2-3-1 ensures more is covered but because they were expansive at times they could have got caught on the break.
In that sense the shield was key and the player you missed out was Edu. He had a blinding season in central midfield.
Great team! The best part about the system is that it allows triangles every where on the pitch, where maybe the current team is lacking. Wenger always keeps the right flank direct and defensive and the left flank slightly creative. The spine of the team is extremely strong and the defense was organised.
I can’t believe this team is only #9. Sure they may have underachieved in Europe, but this Arsenal team would have ripped the 08/09 Barca team to shreads. TH14 in his prime with Bergy feeding him and Bobby and Freddie on the flanks, would have completely exposed Barca’s soft defense. It would have been like the 5-1 mauling, they put on Inter at the San Siro!
That Arsenal side reignited my love for futbol! I had stopped playing and watching it for about 10 years before I was mesmorized by Bergkamp, Henry, Vieira, Adams and Co. That team had such a cutting edge to it, both on the counterattack and in its disciplinary record. I still often watch my invincibles DVD!
wow.. where did u get the DVD?? even i want one!!!
yea where did you get the dvd? i was 13 years old during the invincibles so i cant remember much of it.
I think this list isn’t about the great teams in terms of results and how good the players actually were, but mostly how innovative and good their tactics were.
haha whatever barca would have crushed them
you are crazy… The Invincible team would have beaten this present Barca lot//
The left side triangle of cole,pires and henry would have run riot on the barca defence..
I too watch the Invincible DVD often. Do not think Arsenal will ever have a side like that again.