Arsenal's unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04 gave that team the nickname, 'The Invincibles'. It's a feat that will likely never be matched again – at least in England, anyway.
In order to achieve something so remarkable, every single member of that squad must have been at their absolute best. Of course, goals and assists aren't everything, but they are pretty damn important.
Football FanCast breaks the squad down (of those with a minimum of ten appearances) in order of their goal contributions across the historic Premier League campaign.
Top 10 best games from Arsenal's Invincibles season
Football FanCast takes a look at the best games from their Invincible season.
ByAlex RobertsDec 7, 2023 20 Jeremie Aliadiere 0 goals, 0 assists
Arsenal's other French forward, Jeremie Aliadiere mostly played in the FA Cup and League Cup during their Invincibles season. He only managed 10 Premier League appearances and didn't score once or get an assist, but to be fair to him, only three of those appearances were starts. If he had been given more of a chance, he would likely have contributed more.
Invincibles highlight: Starting as the Gunners came from behind to see off Liverpool at Anfield in early October, playing a part in Robert Pires' winner.
19 Martin Keown 0 goals, 0 assists
By the time the 2003/04 season came around, Martin Keown was very much in the twilight of his career. The old centre-back had been a loyal servant to the Gunners since 1993 when they re-signed the Hale End graduate from Everton. Just because he didn't feature much on the pitch, doesn't mean he didn't make a major contribution to the Invincibles season. His wealth of experience and leadership was likely invaluable for Wenger as the season went on.
Invincibles highlight: Begging Arsene Wenger to bring him on during the final game to earn a Premier League medal (or jumping over Ruud van Nistelrooy).
18 Gael Clichy 0 goals, 0 assists
French left-back Gael Clichy was signed that season, with Ashley Cole, one of the best in that position the Premier League had ever seen, ahead of him in the pecking order. The youngster was therefore not going to be given the chance to make much of an impact. Still, when called upon, Clichy proved he was more than capable of filling in for Cole after making 12 appearances throughout the campaign, and would make the position his own when his predecessor left for Chelsea.
Invincibles highlight: Becoming the youngest-ever Premier League medallist at 18.
17 Pascal Cygan 0 goals, 0 assists
Another member of Arsenal's French contingent, Pascal Cygan was only ever going to be a squad player for Wenger. With an incredibly solid defensive partnership of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell ahead of him, it was going to take a miracle for Cygan to displace them. But, much like Clichy above, he was an incredibly reliable option who definitely played his part (18 times, to be exact) in this amazing season.
Invincibles highlight: Providing solid cover as Arsene Wenger was forced to shuffle his pack over the winter months.
16 Ray Parlour 0 goals, 0 assists
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was another member of the squad who was approaching the end of an impressive career. Parlour's role was to do the dirty work that many of his counterparts avoided. In his 25 appearances, he got eight yellow cards. Like Keown, Wenger would have loved having such an experienced player at his disposal when needed, particularly when injuries bit.
Invincibles highlight: Captaining the side during Patrick Vieira's absence, including during the Gunners' derby victory over Spurs.
15 Jens Lehmann
It's obviously very harsh to judge a goalkeeper by goals and assists, but it has happened before. Jens Lehmann – a rare goalscorer himself – is without a doubt one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has ever seen. The big angry German only conceded 26 goals during the 2003/04 Premier League campaign, keeping 15 clean sheets. Not only was he remarkable between the sticks, his never-say-die attitude rubbed off on his teammates as they chased records.
Invincibles highlight: Superbly denying Craig Bellamy during a tense 0-0 draw at Champions League-chasing Newcastle.
14 Lauren 0 goals, 1 assist
The first player on this list to get a goal or assist, Invincibles right-back Lauren played a pivotal role for Arsenal at the other end of the pitch. The Cameroonian is something of a forgotten man; he may not have had many overly explosive performances, but he was very consistent. Wenger knew exactly what he was going to get from Lauren, and he was the type of player needed to win titles.
Invincibles highlight: For a player as understated as Lauren, it has to be his one assist – a cross put away by Thierry Henry after the Newcastle defence failed to deal with it.
13 Sol Campbell 1 goal, 1 assist
Tottenham Hotspur fans may hate him, but Arsenal fans love him. When Sol Campbell swapped White Hart Lane for Highbury, he immediately became the lynchpin of the Gunners' defence. He was a rock at the back throughout his 35 appearances, but he also popped up with the odd goal, evidenced by the fact he got one in the 2003/04 season. His only goal was the opener against Aston Villa in their 2-0 victory in August.
Invincibles highlight: It has to be his consistency. Only ever missing through injury or suspension, Campbell played the full 90 whenever possible. It is hard to imagine the Invincibles achieving what they did without him.
12 Kolo Toure 1 goal, 1 assist
Kolo Toure may have made a massive two more appearances than defensive partner Campbell, but he didn't get any more goals or assists. Just like Campbell though, he was a man mountain at the back, playing a huge role in Arsenal's season. If it weren't for the Ivorian's calm defensive play, it's unlikely they'd have won the title, never mind gone the season undefeated. He also dropped into midfield when required.
Invincibles highlight: Just take a look at his highlights reel. Enough said.
11 Ashley Cole 0 goals, 3 assists
Ashley Cole may have tarnished his Arsenal legacy by leaving to join London rivals Chelsea two years later, but in 2003/04, he was as good as they got at left-back. The position has evolved since then, and while Cole was more than capable of evolving with it, this campaign shows exactly what he could do defensively. Back then, three assists was a very healthy goal-contribution tally for a full-back.
Invincibles highlight: Dramatic late header in the Champions League aside, his best moment in the league arguably came on the final day, when he won the penalty that drew Arsenal level in their historic comeback win over Leicester City.
Player
Goals
Thierry Henry
39
Robert Pires
19
Freddie Ljungberg
10
Edu
7
Dennis Bergkamp
5
Jose Antonio Reyes
5
Gilberto Silva
4
Sylvain Wiltord
4
Jeremie Aliadiere
4
Kolo Toure
3
Patrick Vieira
3
Nwankwo Kanu
3
Sol Campbell
1
Ashley Cole
1
David Bentley
1
Cesc Fabregas
1
