The scale of Arsenals achievement is perhaps best appreciated by acknowledging its rarity. No modern-day team, not Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s or Manchester United in the 1990s and 2000s, have matched the virtual perfection of Arsenals unbeaten league season in 2003-4.

Indeed, in the entire history of English football, to find even one other club that has emulated Arsne Wengers team you have to go way back to the original Invincibles, Preston North End in 1888-89. Yet Prestons unbeaten season comprised only 22 matches whereas Arsenals stretched to almost double that in a rather more competitive era. Of their 38 games in 2003-4, they won 26 and drew 12 to also achieve one of the highest ever points tallies of 90.

Of course, the full unbeaten run actually lasted some 49 games and went from the end of the 2002-3 season until well into the 2004-5 campaign.

Wenger, who recently became Arsenals longest-serving manager, still rates it as the greatest accomplishment in his entire coaching career. The teams defensive strength rested on the centre-back partnership between Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure. In front of them, Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva formed a base from which the wonderful attacking talents of Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp could really flourish.