After failing to impress during his loan spell with West Ham United last season, Simone Zaza is on fire. A blistering start to the season for new club Valencia, the Italian swept up La Liga’s Player of the Month award for September – beating Lionel Messi to the honour.
The former Juventus man was a laughing stock before even arriving in London, after his penalty miss during Euro 2016 went viral. During his time at the London Stadium, Zaza only managed eight appearances, scoring a total of nil-pwa goals – then to cap it off his loan spell was cancelled in January after a torrid time in England.
But everything now seems to have changed for the frontman; seven goals in his first eight games for Valencia, Zaza has led Los Murciélagos to second in the table – behind only Barcelona. From an individual standpoint, Zaza also sits second in the scoring charts – behind Lionel Messi and his tally of 11.
A physically excellent frontman, Zaza is blessed with plenty of the gifts needed to succeed in England: strength, speed and an eye for goal. Something was missing at West Ham that has clicked in Spain since his arrival.
Since his loan was cancelled at West Ham, Simone Zaza has stated his failures were down to an inability to adjust to life in England.
Quickly I didn’t feel great in many ways. Environment, culture, nutrition, training.
I do not blame anyone. 99% of it was my fault, I was not able to adapt.
– Simeone Zaza
Effortless, however, would be the word to describe how he was settled in at Valencia. Left out in the cold by both parent club Juventus and temporary home West Ham, Zaza’s first choice was Valencia.
Valencia was always the team I wanted most. Everyone told me it was a wonderful place. And it’s true. It is similar to Italy. And then to be by the sea and the sun, makes me happy, I do not need anything else.
These words from the Italian show how much surrounding himself with a comfortable environment means to him. The hustle and bustle of London never suited Zaza, and it showed on the pitch. Penning a €16million deal for Zaza showed the confidence Valencia had in the man. After failing drastically in England, it was a huge risk for Los Che.
Confidence is essential for any striker to succeed, a confidence Zaza has suddenly got in abundance. Being positioned as the main attacking outlet for Valencia, their No.9 knows the side rely on him for goals. With strike partner Rodrigo preferring to drop into an almost No.10 role, and wide men such as Goncalo Guedes providing supply from out wide, the supply line is there for the striker.
Familiarity with your team-mates allows for an almost telekinetic communication to be formed. And that is what is happening for Zaza; Rodrigo, Zaza and Guedes have all been almost ever present this campaign so far, as has been skipper Dani Perejo. Pulling the strings from the heart of midfield, the Spaniard has a range of passing that can compete with any in Spain.
The thinking from manager Marcelino is one of attacking intent, with the focus being to get floods of players into attacking positions as much as possible. Attacking full-backs on either side constantly overlapping, balls are being fired low into the box as often as possible.
For a No.9 like Zaza, this is ideal and his movement and quick thinking allows this system to flourish. Sitting between the two centre-backs and gambling on any ball played into the danger zone, this attacking thinking is made for Zaza. Zaza has scored seven goals in either league games this campaign – only one of which was scored from outside of the box.
Simone Zaza is surrounded by attacking quality at Valencia, he knows any ball played into him will be one of quality. The options are always surrounding the man on the ball, with a minimum of three options on at all times. Whether it’s a period of sustained pressure, or a lung busting counter attack – the options are plenty for Valencia and Zaza right now.
The way Marcelino lines up is to go and take the game to any opponent, at no point do they slow down. This mindset breeds confidence into your attacking outlets, and Zaza is the perfect example. The Italian front man not only benefits from Marcelino’s confidence in his ability, but the man himself demonstrates huge confidence in the ability of his team mates. As he arrives in the perfect position at the perfect time, knowing the ball played to him will be perfect. Five out of Zaza’s seven league goals so far this season have came from first time finishes or headers.
Zaza’s team around him make up a foundation that was lacking during his time at West Ham. The London club had a horrible start to last season, moving into a new stadium, and with the manager seemingly not knowing his best team. The side was in turmoil, and this had a negative effect on the players.
The Valencia fans know all too well about a club in turmoil. After years in the wilderness, Los Che are on a path to return to the glory days of Rafa Benitez’s time in charge at the Mestalla. Harmony between all parts of the club, from the players to the board room. Boss Marcelino has been given control over all things football related, and it is translating onto success on the pitch.
This form of harmony within a club would do wonders for any player, and Zaza is at the forefront of that. With the machine behind him and his team-mates, the Italian is rolling and shows no sign of slowing down.
Friday, 20 October 2017
Thursday, 19 October 2017
Timothy Weah: Born into Greatness.
Being the son of a Ballon d’Or winner brings its own pressures to any young footballer. Timothy Weah, son of former AC Milan striker George Weah, is dealing with those pressures immaculately during the early stages of his career. The teenager is currently signed to French giants Paris Saint-Germain, representing their Under-19s. Also starring for the US at youth level, scoring a hat-trick in their 5-0 victory over Paraguay in the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Timothy is the youngest of George Weah’s children, and the second to break into professional football. Older brother George Weah Jr had his career tarnished with injuries before turning 20, slimming his chances of following in his father’s footsteps. Showing signs of quality early on in his development, the 17-year-old Timothy was a hot property regardless of his famous father. After growing up in New York, Timothy signed for the New York Red Bull’s youth system at 13. Just 12 months later some of the top dogs of European football were sniffing around the young attacker, and after a trial with Chelsea, he signed an apprentice contract with PSG.
Impressing for the Under-17s right from the off, scoring a hat-trick during the early stage of his time with the youth team. He went on to score five during an Al Kass cup fixture, drawing the attention of the board; and in July 2017, Weah signed his first professional contract.
Despite the temptation to follow his father in representing Liberia at international level – Weah was called up to the US youth system in early 2017. Featuring in the CONCACAF U17 Championships. During his six appearances in the competition, Weah registered two goals and two assists, thriving on the international stage. Displaying incredible confidence when on the ball, Timothy appeared incredibly comfortable during his first outings for the US. And as previously mentioned, Weah is currently participating in the U17 FIFA World Cup.
His hat-trick against Paraguay showed glimpses of his father’s striker instinct – a trait he seems to have inherited. Comfortable on either side, Weah cut in from the left and curled a beautifully placed shot into the top right corner with his right foot.
Timothy said in an interview after the game, also discussing his desire to impress PSG boss Unai Emery. Weah appeared optimistic but acknowledged that the road ahead is long. Commenting on PSG’s plethora of attacking power, and a desire to emulate them one day.
“When I am ready, and when the coach (Unai Emery) sees that I’m ready, hopefully, I will be given a call-up to the first team.
Often asked about how he feels, dealing with the pressure of being the son of George Weah. Timothy insists it is only ever positive.
“I Just use it as an advantage. My Father was a great player – and it’s up to me to be the best that I can be.”
“I’m still going to try and be one of the best players to play the game. Following in my father’s footsteps is not a big deal to me.”
Drawing striking resembles to his father whenever he takes to the pitch however, Weah’s class and composure on the ball fill the other players around him with confidence. A quickness that will make him the favourite in any foot race on the pitch, Timothy posses many of the traits of the perfect modern day attacker. Named by the Guardian in its annual list of top footballing prospects, it’s easy to see why going off of his development this year alone.
Armed with a strong personality and even stronger work ethic, Weah has earned high praise from US U17 head coach John Hackworth. Stating how impressed he was with Weah’s work rate, drawing more comparisons to his legendary father. Hackworth also noted how Timothy has a strong desire to use every possible opportunity to improve. It appears both physically and mentally Tim Weah has all of the tools to achieve whatever he sets out to achieve.
Fast, strong and technically sound, Weah has the opportunity to make huge strides in the footballing world. And using the U17 FIFA World Cup as a springboard, his development trajectory indicates it won’t be long before he’s warming up alongside Neymar in the PSG first team. With a bloodline of a legend, and the future of a nation on his back. The youngest Weah has the world at his feet.
Timothy is the youngest of George Weah’s children, and the second to break into professional football. Older brother George Weah Jr had his career tarnished with injuries before turning 20, slimming his chances of following in his father’s footsteps. Showing signs of quality early on in his development, the 17-year-old Timothy was a hot property regardless of his famous father. After growing up in New York, Timothy signed for the New York Red Bull’s youth system at 13. Just 12 months later some of the top dogs of European football were sniffing around the young attacker, and after a trial with Chelsea, he signed an apprentice contract with PSG.
Impressing for the Under-17s right from the off, scoring a hat-trick during the early stage of his time with the youth team. He went on to score five during an Al Kass cup fixture, drawing the attention of the board; and in July 2017, Weah signed his first professional contract.
Despite the temptation to follow his father in representing Liberia at international level – Weah was called up to the US youth system in early 2017. Featuring in the CONCACAF U17 Championships. During his six appearances in the competition, Weah registered two goals and two assists, thriving on the international stage. Displaying incredible confidence when on the ball, Timothy appeared incredibly comfortable during his first outings for the US. And as previously mentioned, Weah is currently participating in the U17 FIFA World Cup.
His hat-trick against Paraguay showed glimpses of his father’s striker instinct – a trait he seems to have inherited. Comfortable on either side, Weah cut in from the left and curled a beautifully placed shot into the top right corner with his right foot.
Timothy said in an interview after the game, also discussing his desire to impress PSG boss Unai Emery. Weah appeared optimistic but acknowledged that the road ahead is long. Commenting on PSG’s plethora of attacking power, and a desire to emulate them one day.
“When I am ready, and when the coach (Unai Emery) sees that I’m ready, hopefully, I will be given a call-up to the first team.
Often asked about how he feels, dealing with the pressure of being the son of George Weah. Timothy insists it is only ever positive.
“I Just use it as an advantage. My Father was a great player – and it’s up to me to be the best that I can be.”
“I’m still going to try and be one of the best players to play the game. Following in my father’s footsteps is not a big deal to me.”
Drawing striking resembles to his father whenever he takes to the pitch however, Weah’s class and composure on the ball fill the other players around him with confidence. A quickness that will make him the favourite in any foot race on the pitch, Timothy posses many of the traits of the perfect modern day attacker. Named by the Guardian in its annual list of top footballing prospects, it’s easy to see why going off of his development this year alone.
Armed with a strong personality and even stronger work ethic, Weah has earned high praise from US U17 head coach John Hackworth. Stating how impressed he was with Weah’s work rate, drawing more comparisons to his legendary father. Hackworth also noted how Timothy has a strong desire to use every possible opportunity to improve. It appears both physically and mentally Tim Weah has all of the tools to achieve whatever he sets out to achieve.
Fast, strong and technically sound, Weah has the opportunity to make huge strides in the footballing world. And using the U17 FIFA World Cup as a springboard, his development trajectory indicates it won’t be long before he’s warming up alongside Neymar in the PSG first team. With a bloodline of a legend, and the future of a nation on his back. The youngest Weah has the world at his feet.
Thursday, 12 October 2017
Rosseneri Recapture: How can AC Milan reclaim their throne?
Seven European cups, 18 Scuddetos, five Coppa Italias, AC Milan are one of the biggest club sides in the world, a dominating powerhouse of football – with some of the biggest names in the game having pulled on the famous red and black stripes.
During this current decade, however, it has been a very different Milan side taking to the pitch at the San Siro. No league title since 2011, and no Champions League qualification since 2013. The state of AC Milan was at its lowest since the match-fixing scandal of 2006, but things appeared to take a turn for the better.
Chinese investors purchased 99.93% of AC Milan – €520million – as well as the refurbishment of financial debt, totalling €220million. And from here, Milan kicked on, and over the course of the 2017 summer transfer window they spent £175 million on new players; spending more money then any other Italian side and the total was only topped across Europe by Paris Saint-Germain.
Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, highly sort after full-back Ricardo Rodriguez and a forward with the world at his feet in Andre Silva; Milan had strengthened massively. Manager Vincento Montella had a huge selection of new players to improve his side throughout and potentially push for the title. After two wins from their first two games, however, Milan fell 4-1 to Lazio and since then it’s been nothing short of underwhelming from big spending AC Milan. Just 12 points from their first seven games places Milan in seventh position – nine points from the top.
After the huge investment, Milan have failed to capture the imagination of their fans. How has it gone so wrong? And what can be done to bring the famous red half of Milan back to providence?
Milan’s £175 million went on 11 new players this summer, with the majority expecting first-team football. This immediately presented a problem for Montella as he now faced the task of fitting the new additions into his system in a very short space of time.
This may be one of the nicer problems for a manager to have, but that doesn’t change the fact that it can take time for players to adapt to a new team, and a new league entirely for a number of the signings. Spurs proved that in 2013 when they spent the world-record fee they received for Gareth Bale on seven new players, only two of which are still at the club after the other five failed to settle in at White Hart Lane.
The Italian way of defending is long gone for AC Milan, who have registered just two clean sheets from their first seven league games – conceding ten goals in this time. This comes after assembling an almost entirely new defence in the summer.
So far in this campaign Milan have deployed a three centre-back system, with Fabio Borini and Ricardo Rodriguez acting as wing backs. Neither Borini or Rodriguez are natural wing-backs, with lung-busting pace who can get up and down the flanks. A very solid full-back Rodriguez proved to be during his time in Germany; but rarely an attacking one. Borini on the other hand – a striker by trade, often used as a wide midfielder, being played as a wing-back is just asking for trouble – an example of where the man in charge has got his tactics completely wrong.
Transitioning from defence into attack, and once again Milan’s huge investments failing to pay off. Hakan Çalhanoğlu signed for £20million, seen by many as a bargain for a midfielder with bags of potential. Playing mainly as one of three central midfielders, the Turk is not having the impact on the game you would expect to see.
Ahead of Çalhanoğlu is Portuguese forward Andre Silva; after picking up a knock at the start of the season, manager Montella has been hesitant to play the young striker, causing the Milan fans to question the decision-making. When Silva has played, however – despite being prolific in Europe and on the international stage – in his first two league outings, he has struggled to get into the game. Managing only three shots across the two games and failing to score.
Wide man Suso has been Milan’s shining light so far – with two goals and two assists. The Spaniard, however, found himself out of the team for Milan’s 2-0 home defeat to Roma, in place of another of the new signings. A very questionable decision by the manager, and one that has cost his side. Much like the decision to deploy two non-wing-backs as wing-backs, Vincenzo Montella has a lot to answer for.
Despite spending huge amounts of money in the summer, Milan look no better now then they did 12 months ago. This time last year Milan sat third in the table – just two points behind leaders Juventus.
Milan had conceded 11 league goals at the close of October, last season, but coming into October this time, they’ve already let in 10 goals; the defence may have improved on paper, but not in practice. They have the players, they have the financial backing but there is still something missing. The answer could be, not the personnel coming in, but one man in particular going out.
Vincenzo Montella has his tactics all wrong this season, right from the very first game. Particularity defensively, the insistence on playing the new signings appears to have cost Milan. Before a relationship was built between defenders – Bonucci, Rodriguez, Musacchio and Borini were all thrown in; and have been almost ever present since – a rotating fifth defender comes in and Milan look a mess at the back against the bigger sides, with Roma, Lazio and Sampdoria all finding it far too easy to infiltrate Milan’s back line.
So Montella’s tactics have cost his side, a change has to be made if Milan are to take advantage of the situation they find themselves in. All the money in the world and a squad full of talent, who can be trusted to handle it? A Milan legend.
Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian is the only manager in history to win three UEFA Champions Leagues – two of which were during his previous stint at the San Siro. Recently fired by Bayern Munich, the rumours are already flying. Ancelotti to Milan, one of the most successful managers in Milan’s history, coming in to lead the side to glory.
The Italian giants have already reportedly made contact with Ancelotti, and both the man himself and Vincent Montella have commented on the potential return. Montella joked in a press conference that the three-time European champion could be his No.2 at Milan; while Carlo mentioned a job share.
No official comment has been made from either party, with the board appearing to have Montella’s full backing. But as the pressure continues to grow on the man in charge, it could be a case of no smoke without fire.
A lot needs to be done to save Milan’s season already, but there are very few managers in world football with a track record like Ancelotti’s. A new manager is often what a side needs to find their form. History tells us major shift in surroundings often allows players to find an extra gear. With a man like Carlo Ancelotti at the helm for any club, success is almost a given. Taking back over at the club where he achieved his greatest successes as a manager, it is almost too good to be true.
During this current decade, however, it has been a very different Milan side taking to the pitch at the San Siro. No league title since 2011, and no Champions League qualification since 2013. The state of AC Milan was at its lowest since the match-fixing scandal of 2006, but things appeared to take a turn for the better.
Chinese investors purchased 99.93% of AC Milan – €520million – as well as the refurbishment of financial debt, totalling €220million. And from here, Milan kicked on, and over the course of the 2017 summer transfer window they spent £175 million on new players; spending more money then any other Italian side and the total was only topped across Europe by Paris Saint-Germain.
Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, highly sort after full-back Ricardo Rodriguez and a forward with the world at his feet in Andre Silva; Milan had strengthened massively. Manager Vincento Montella had a huge selection of new players to improve his side throughout and potentially push for the title. After two wins from their first two games, however, Milan fell 4-1 to Lazio and since then it’s been nothing short of underwhelming from big spending AC Milan. Just 12 points from their first seven games places Milan in seventh position – nine points from the top.
After the huge investment, Milan have failed to capture the imagination of their fans. How has it gone so wrong? And what can be done to bring the famous red half of Milan back to providence?
Milan’s £175 million went on 11 new players this summer, with the majority expecting first-team football. This immediately presented a problem for Montella as he now faced the task of fitting the new additions into his system in a very short space of time.
This may be one of the nicer problems for a manager to have, but that doesn’t change the fact that it can take time for players to adapt to a new team, and a new league entirely for a number of the signings. Spurs proved that in 2013 when they spent the world-record fee they received for Gareth Bale on seven new players, only two of which are still at the club after the other five failed to settle in at White Hart Lane.
The Italian way of defending is long gone for AC Milan, who have registered just two clean sheets from their first seven league games – conceding ten goals in this time. This comes after assembling an almost entirely new defence in the summer.
So far in this campaign Milan have deployed a three centre-back system, with Fabio Borini and Ricardo Rodriguez acting as wing backs. Neither Borini or Rodriguez are natural wing-backs, with lung-busting pace who can get up and down the flanks. A very solid full-back Rodriguez proved to be during his time in Germany; but rarely an attacking one. Borini on the other hand – a striker by trade, often used as a wide midfielder, being played as a wing-back is just asking for trouble – an example of where the man in charge has got his tactics completely wrong.
Transitioning from defence into attack, and once again Milan’s huge investments failing to pay off. Hakan Çalhanoğlu signed for £20million, seen by many as a bargain for a midfielder with bags of potential. Playing mainly as one of three central midfielders, the Turk is not having the impact on the game you would expect to see.
Ahead of Çalhanoğlu is Portuguese forward Andre Silva; after picking up a knock at the start of the season, manager Montella has been hesitant to play the young striker, causing the Milan fans to question the decision-making. When Silva has played, however – despite being prolific in Europe and on the international stage – in his first two league outings, he has struggled to get into the game. Managing only three shots across the two games and failing to score.
Wide man Suso has been Milan’s shining light so far – with two goals and two assists. The Spaniard, however, found himself out of the team for Milan’s 2-0 home defeat to Roma, in place of another of the new signings. A very questionable decision by the manager, and one that has cost his side. Much like the decision to deploy two non-wing-backs as wing-backs, Vincenzo Montella has a lot to answer for.
Despite spending huge amounts of money in the summer, Milan look no better now then they did 12 months ago. This time last year Milan sat third in the table – just two points behind leaders Juventus.
Milan had conceded 11 league goals at the close of October, last season, but coming into October this time, they’ve already let in 10 goals; the defence may have improved on paper, but not in practice. They have the players, they have the financial backing but there is still something missing. The answer could be, not the personnel coming in, but one man in particular going out.
Vincenzo Montella has his tactics all wrong this season, right from the very first game. Particularity defensively, the insistence on playing the new signings appears to have cost Milan. Before a relationship was built between defenders – Bonucci, Rodriguez, Musacchio and Borini were all thrown in; and have been almost ever present since – a rotating fifth defender comes in and Milan look a mess at the back against the bigger sides, with Roma, Lazio and Sampdoria all finding it far too easy to infiltrate Milan’s back line.
So Montella’s tactics have cost his side, a change has to be made if Milan are to take advantage of the situation they find themselves in. All the money in the world and a squad full of talent, who can be trusted to handle it? A Milan legend.
Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian is the only manager in history to win three UEFA Champions Leagues – two of which were during his previous stint at the San Siro. Recently fired by Bayern Munich, the rumours are already flying. Ancelotti to Milan, one of the most successful managers in Milan’s history, coming in to lead the side to glory.
The Italian giants have already reportedly made contact with Ancelotti, and both the man himself and Vincent Montella have commented on the potential return. Montella joked in a press conference that the three-time European champion could be his No.2 at Milan; while Carlo mentioned a job share.
No official comment has been made from either party, with the board appearing to have Montella’s full backing. But as the pressure continues to grow on the man in charge, it could be a case of no smoke without fire.
A lot needs to be done to save Milan’s season already, but there are very few managers in world football with a track record like Ancelotti’s. A new manager is often what a side needs to find their form. History tells us major shift in surroundings often allows players to find an extra gear. With a man like Carlo Ancelotti at the helm for any club, success is almost a given. Taking back over at the club where he achieved his greatest successes as a manager, it is almost too good to be true.
Tuesday, 10 October 2017
Arsenal's 'Invincibles' - Why they weren't as great as you remember.
During the 20 seasons of Premier League awards back in 2012, Arsenal’s famous 2003/2004 side, more commonly known as the ‘Invincibles’, were voted as the best Premier League side in history.
It’s easy to see why, with top scorer Thierry Henry at the peak of his powers, Sol Campbell bossing proceedings from the back, and the pairing of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva dominating midfield, the spine of the team was unparalleled. Frenchman Robert Pires and maverick Freddie Ljungberg tormenting full backs across the country, no one could stop the Gunners.
This is how they are remembered by the vast masses, but not quite how they should be remembered.
Arsenal ended their 2003/2004 campaign with 90 points, which is no doubt a very impressive points haul for the season. Just 12 months later, however, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side finished their title-winning season with 95 points – five more than the Gunners.
So, if just 12 months after Wenger’s side finished with 90 points, Chelsea racked up more points then Arsenal, over the same amount of games, playing a lot of the same sides, Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ side were not as good as the champions that followed them.
In fact, Arsenal’s total of 90 points during their famous season is only the sixth-highest points total in Premier League history. With Chelsea ending the league season with more the 90 points on three separate occasions, and Manchester United doing it twice.
Now, moving away from points and onto goals, to be precise, how few goals Arsenal scored during the season. During the 2003/2004 season the North London club had, at their disposal, one of the greatest striking partnerships in the league’s history: Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.
Henry finished the season as Golden Boot winner with 30 league goals, and with the Frenchman leading the line Arsenal ended the campaign with 73 goals which, when put into context, is incredibly low for a title-winning side. In fact, in the 13 seasons that have followed the ‘Invincibles’, only on four occasions have the champions failed to score less then 73 league goals, and only twice in the last decade.
With such attacking power how did Arsenal only manage 73 goals?
Wenger and his side played out the end of the season to avoid defeat. Now, throughout most of the season, Arsenal went out to play and they went out to win. But it was later on in the season where this point comes into play.
Four draws from their last six games shows two things: going unbeaten was firmly on the minds of the players, the coaching staff, everyone who was involved with the club – going unbeaten was the priority. It also shows that playing entertaining football and sending the fans home happy was not at the forefront of the thinking for the men in charge.
In fact, in the last six games of the campaign Arsenal, with Thierry Henry leading the line, only managed six goals. That’s an average of one goal-per-game; to put that into context only one side in the ENTIRE division had an average of one goal-per-game that season. That side was Wolverhampton Wanderers and they finished bottom.
Invincible means, too powerful to be defeated or overcome. Despite playing our their league season unbeaten, in all competitions Arsenal found themselves on the losing side in some of their biggest games.
During the course of the campaign, Arsenal actually lost to three Premier League sides. Starting with defeats home and away to Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup semi-finals – Arsenal came into the game with their eyes on the first piece of silverware of the domestic season.
The opportunity was there for Arsenal to send out a message to the other top sides in England; that the Gunners meant business. It was clear that Arsenal were looking past Steve McClaren’s side, and the underdogs walked away 3-1 victors on aggregate.
FA Cup semi final vs Manchester United, another massive game for Arsenal. But unlike in their league fixtures, the game had to have an outright winner. Arsenal really went for broke during this encounter with their old rivals. But without frontman Thierry Henry the red half of North London lacked that cutting edge. That same cutting edge their opponents had in abundance and Paul Scholes scored the only goal of the game to send United to the final.
What was to follow was Arsenal’s biggest game of the season; a Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea. After a 1-1 draw at the Bridge, Arsenal welcomed Chelsea to Highbury – firmly in the driver’s seat with an away goal to their name.
Wenger’s men faced their biggest task of the campaign on the biggest stage, and only days after falling out of the FA Cup to Manchester United the chance was there for Arsenal to really show their class. And a victory against Chelsea would have given them a huge opportunity to capture their first ever European Cup.
On the night, however, everything that had come before in the league meant nothing. Wayne Bridge scored the winner for Chelsea as Arsenal exited their second competition in the space of a week; when push came to shove, Arsenal lacked something.
Arsenal did manage to go the entire league season without suffering defeat, an incredibly accomplishment; this was achieved with some rather dubious methods. Portsmouth travelled to Highbury in September 2003, and took an early lead against the Gunners.
While driving into the box, Robert Pires dived to win a penalty, which Henry slotted away to equalise. In the years that followed the manager himself openly admitted to Pires’ dive, whereas after the game the man involved came out and denied the dive. The French wide man said it was:
“…not the way he played and that he was not a cheat.”
Because they did not lose a game, the Arsenal Invincibles are seen as the greatest Premier League side in history. They went unbeaten, that fact is not debatable – but do the maths for one moment. You could go an entire season unbeaten, and still go down, finishing on 38 points – two off the magic 40-point target sides battling the drop aim for. Football is about winning, not avoiding defeat and the 2003/2004 Arsenal side played to avoid defeat throughout much of the key stages of their season.
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger simply took advantage of what was a poor season in terms of standard of football to achieve what they did. Much like Leicester City in 2016, they won the title without being a truly remarkable team.
It’s unlikely that another side will ever go an entire Premier League season unbeaten. This is not because no side could ever do it, but because the very best sides don’t need to go unbeaten to be seen as the very best.
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