I saw on Wikipedia that today marks 20 years since Arsenal lost their unbeaten record when Manchester United defeated them 2 - 0 and Fergie ended up having a slice of pizza thrown at him.
Looking back at the highlights of the game (I'll post a link in the comment section) all I'll say as a neutral is that things could've been a lot different if VAR was around then, but alas United ended the unbeaten run and RVN got some measure of redemption after what happened in the same fixture last season.
In hindsight this match kind of felt like a symbolic end to the brilliant Arsenal side at that time. Don't get me wrong they were still a strong team for rest of the decade and got some measure of revenge by nicking that 2005 FA Cup win on penalties, but it would be the rise of Chelsea and the rejuvenated United team who would go on to win the EPL between them for the rest of that decade and a bit into the next one.
One thing I do find annoying, that is common on here with a section of posters, is diluting the unbeaten record. Yeah, Arsenal only won the EPL that season, but to go an entire season unbeaten and rack up just under half a century of games unbeaten is a phenomenal achievement and deserves to be recognised as amongst the best achievements in English football. Which thankfully it is, anything to suggest otherwise is just a pure coping mechanism and this is from somebody who finds Arsenal fans just as annoying as many others do.
49 and Out - 20 Years Ago Today
posted 20 hours, 24 minutes ago
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/oct/24/swedish-invincibles-angelholm-women-did-not-concede-finished-second
posted 20 hours, 2 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
There's an entertaining write-up of that match and Pizzagate, constructed from first-hand witness recollections, in the Athletic today.
I remember the win with great pleasure. The merciless roughing up of Reyes. Rooney sealing it. Terrible refereeing though that day: Henry should have had a red card.
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Reyes must've been one of the youngest players on the pitch that day and yet is no longer around.
Reyes
Liam Miller was an unused sub for United.
Miller
posted 18 hours, 28 minutes ago
Sorry, but going unbeaten in a season, whilst an admirable achievement, requires some good fortune and doesn't necessarily mean the team was unbelievable, which is the case here for me.
There are other Arsenal teams I rate higher from that period, as well as other teams generally, who achieved more trophy wise. Amongst the best achievements in English football? Not for me. Impressive, yes, but teams who won doubles / European Cup / CL as well etc would generally rate higher for me.
posted 18 hours, 13 minutes ago
BraveHeart Tyke..my man. It has to be diluted cos this over rated achievement is so concentrated.
Why isn’t it the clear front runner as the Greatest Prem win of all Time?
posted 17 hours, 51 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 34 minutes ago
Sorry, but going unbeaten in a season, whilst an admirable achievement, requires some good fortune and doesn't necessarily mean the team was unbelievable, which is the case here for me.
There are other Arsenal teams I rate higher from that period, as well as other teams generally, who achieved more trophy wise. Amongst the best achievements in English football? Not for me. Impressive, yes, but teams who won doubles / European Cup / CL as well etc would generally rate higher for me.
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Yep. Chelsea should have beaten Man City about 5-1 but somehow lost the game on a penalty and would have gone the season unbeaten again. It’s more luck than anything. Also felt like Arsenal were playing not to lose at the end of that season
posted 17 hours, 22 minutes ago
A team whose results were heavily influenced by various forms of cheating deserves no more "recognition" than just that.
More red cards in Wengers first six seasons than the combined total of CFC, LFC and MUFC. And that's just for the stuff they were penalised for. They got away with much worse.
I've never forgiven them, I hate cheats.
posted 16 hours, 52 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 34 minutes ago
Sorry, but going unbeaten in a season, whilst an admirable achievement, requires some good fortune and doesn't necessarily mean the team was unbelievable, which is the case here for me.
There are other Arsenal teams I rate higher from that period, as well as other teams generally, who achieved more trophy wise. Amongst the best achievements in English football? Not for me. Impressive, yes, but teams who won doubles / European Cup / CL as well etc would generally rate higher for me.
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Yep. Chelsea should have beaten Man City about 5-1 but somehow lost the game on a penalty and would have gone the season unbeaten again. It’s more luck than anything. Also felt like Arsenal were playing not to lose at the end of that season
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Chelsea were lucky against Arsenal in 2004/2005. Henry missed a sitter in the home game late on so you should have lost that game anyway. Arsenal also only spent £3 million in Summer 2003. How much did Chelsea have to spend with all Ambrovich money?
posted 15 hours, 29 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 🏴 JA... (U2462)
posted 4 hours, 55 minutes ago
A women's team in Sweden went unbeaten without conceding a goal and still finished second recently!
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Typical women, focusing on clean sheets
posted 15 hours, 28 minutes ago
comment by Snooker_49 (U10665)
posted 1 hour, 22 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 34 minutes ago
Sorry, but going unbeaten in a season, whilst an admirable achievement, requires some good fortune and doesn't necessarily mean the team was unbelievable, which is the case here for me.
There are other Arsenal teams I rate higher from that period, as well as other teams generally, who achieved more trophy wise. Amongst the best achievements in English football? Not for me. Impressive, yes, but teams who won doubles / European Cup / CL as well etc would generally rate higher for me.
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Yep. Chelsea should have beaten Man City about 5-1 but somehow lost the game on a penalty and would have gone the season unbeaten again. It’s more luck than anything. Also felt like Arsenal were playing not to lose at the end of that season
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Chelsea were lucky against Arsenal in 2004/2005. Henry missed a sitter in the home game late on so you should have lost that game anyway. Arsenal also only spent £3 million in Summer 2003. How much did Chelsea have to spend with all Ambrovich money?
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Proves my point that it’s mostly luck that record.
Not sure why you’ve bought money into it? Nothing to do with what anyone’s discussing.
posted 3 hours, 15 minutes ago
Yeah I'm not having a go at you, it's just...obviously the best people haven't turned up.