Mangan Andrew - Together: the story of Arsenals unbeaten season

TOGETHER: THE STORY OF ARSENALS UNBEATEN SEASON

H aving won the Double in 2001-2, the following season Arsenal were very much in contention to win back-to-back titles for the first time since the Herbert Chapman era. At the beginning of March they had a five-point lead over great rivals Manchester United.

On April 26th they were down to second in the table three points behind United but with a game in hand, and with a better goal difference. That day they travelled to the Reebok to play Sam Allardyces Bolton. They went 2-0 up, with goals from Robert Pirs and Sylvain Wiltord, and everything looked like it was going according to plan.

Yet Boltons uncompromising style saw Freddie Ljungberg, Pascal Cygan and Lauren forced off through injury caused by hefty Bolton tackles. Youri Djorkaeff pulled a goal back for the home side on seventy-four minutes before a Martin Keown own goal brought Bolton level. Arsenal couldnt find a winner, and for the first time in months it was out of their hands.

When a late Mark Viduka winner for Leeds stunned Highbury in the next game, it was done and dusted. United went on to take the title, and although Arsenal won the FA Cup, beating Southampton in the process, it felt a little underwhelming.

Leaving aside the circumstances of the Bolton defeat, the gamesmanship of Allardyce beforehand in which he suggested referees showed a huge bias towards top teams and that Arsenal regularly intimidated referees; or the industrial challenges from Boltons players, Arsenal had a substantial lead in the table and let United catch them up.

Some suggested it showed the Gunners lacked the fight or character to succeed; others that Arsne Wengers squad needed serious strengthening; and for many it was an opportunity to throw some misrepresented quotes back in the Arsenal managers face.

It had been widely reported in the previous twelve months that Wenger said Arsenal would go a whole season unbeaten, but as we know, nobody ever let facts get in the way of a good story.

In truth this is what he said when specifically asked about the prospect: Its not impossible as AC Milan once did it but I cant see why its so shocking to say it. Do you think Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea dont dream that as well?

Theyre exactly the same. They just dont say it because theyre scared to look ridiculous, but nobody is ridiculous in this job as we know anything can happen.

Now that the title was gone, there were plenty keen to rub salt in the wound. Even Sam Allardyce, in thrall to the heavy Govan musk of Alex Ferguson, couldnt resist a little pop after that game at the Reebok.

Earlier this season he said they would go through the season without losing, crowed the cud-chewing Bolton manager. Those words might be coming back to haunt him now!

Yet twelve months later, it was Allardyce left with egg on his face (along with the pie, cake and fistfuls of Nutella he clearly crammed in on a regular basis). Wenger had done not what he said he would, but what he wanted to go through a league season without defeat.

The 2003-04 campaign was a remarkable one from an Arsenal standpoint. Its remembered primarily because of the unbeaten record in the Premiership and the way that Arsenal won that title: it was one full of incident, controversy, highs and lows on and off the pitch, and themes that are familiar to this day.

There was a Champions League campaign that started woefully, soared to great heights in Milan, and ended in heart-breaking fashion; a club record mid-season transfer deal; on-going issues with the contracts of top players; and financial wranglings as the club scrambled to arrange the finance for a new stadium.

There were new faces, falls from grace, red cards, pitched battles, media mayhem, ritual humiliation of opponents that thoroughly deserved it, and much more.

This book will take you through the entirety of the campaign. Every moment, every goal, every game, from pre-season to lifting the title in May as Arsenal did it: Together.

T he summer begins in quiet fashion. Theres no summer tournament of note (although the Confederations Cup sees some of the French players involved), and Arsne Wenger takes the team to Austria, as is the custom, to prepare in relaxing, bucolic surroundings in view of the Alps. Transfer business is almost non-existent. A young Swiss defender by the name of Philippe Senderos arrives from Servette, but aside from that, nothing happens.

Theres an early issue with Dennis Bergkamps contract. His agent, Rob Jansen, says: The contract Arsenal have offered Dennis is too embarrassing for words.

Perhaps its because Dennis is considering making this campaign his last hurrah, and reveals hes thinking of calling it a day. This season will be my last. I want to make this the best season that I have ever had because I will never have another chance. So I have got to take it.

Graham Barrett, Jermaine Brown, Oleg Luzhny, Guillaume Warmuz are released, and David Seaman announces his intention to leave the club. He subsequently signs for Manchester City after thirteen years at Highbury.

It means Arsenal are on the look out for a new goalkeeper and throughout the summer countless names are linked (some of them quite seriously), with deals almost in place for the likes of Colombian Oscar Cordoba: I know that the negotiations are going well, and that the agreement can be sealed in any moment. I would love to play for Arsenal. Its one of the best clubs in the world and they are always fighting for big things. Argentine Sebastian Saja tells the press: I have been told to expect officials from Arsenal to speak with me in the next seven days. Talks are at an advanced stage between the clubs and a fee has been agreed.