2002–03 Arsenal F.C. season

The 2002–03 season was the 105th season of competitive football played by Arsenal. The club retained the FA Cup, a feat last achieved by Tottenham Hotspur in 1982, but finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League. In the UEFA Champions League, defeat to Valencia in the second group stage meant Arsenal exited the competition at the same round for the second successive year.

Arsenal
2002–03 season
ChairmanPeter Hill-Wood
ManagerArsène Wenger
StadiumHighbury
Premier League2nd
FA CupWinners
Worthington CupThird round
FA Community ShieldWinners
UEFA Champions LeagueSecond group stage
Top goalscorerLeague: Thierry Henry (24)
All: Thierry Henry (32)
Highest home attendance38,164 vs Manchester United
(16 April 2003)
Lowest home attendance19,059 vs Sunderland
(6 November 2002)
Average home league attendance38,041

Arsenal began the new campaign as league and cup double winners, and manager Arsène Wenger sought improvement in the Champions League, a competition the club failed in. The retirement of defender Tony Adams meant French midfielder Patrick Vieira was appointed as captain; Pascal Cygan was signed as a replacement in defence. Other recruitments included defensive midfielders Gilberto Silva and Kolo Touré, while goalkeepers Alex Manninger and Richard Wright departed to join Espanyol and Everton respectively.

In the league, a 4–1 win against Leeds United in September meant the club broke the record for scoring in consecutive games (47), and away league games without defeat (22). The club began 2003 in first position, but subsequently floundered; a draw to Aston Villa in April allowed Manchester United to move joint top. A further draw at Bolton Wanderers meant the league championship was, mathematically, out of Arsenal's hands and defeat to Leeds a week after ended their chances of retaining the league. Consolation came in retaining the FA Cup; a solitary goal scored by midfielder Robert Pires was enough to beat Southampton in the 2003 final.

30 different players represented the club in five competitions and there were 17 different goalscorers. Arsenal's top goalscorer was Thierry Henry, who scored 32 goals in 55 appearances.

Background

Arsenal began the 2001–02 season in good form and a win against Liverpool in December 2001 – having gone down to ten men in the first half, helped them move second in the table.[1] A draw against Southampton on 2 February 2002 started a run of 13 consecutive league wins – a new record, beginning against Everton.[2] Arsenal won the league away to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 8 May 2002; the winning goal was scored by Sylvain Wiltord in the second half.[3] The result meant the team were unbeaten away from home all season, and in scoring four goals against Everton on the final day, became the first team to score in every league match they played.[4] Arsenal completed the double, having beaten Chelsea 2–0 in the 2002 FA Cup Final.

Wenger hoped his team's success would begin an era of dominating English football for years to come, citing a "shift of power".[5] He moreover aimed for significant improvement in the Champions League, a competition where the club failed to reach higher than the quarter-finals.[6] Such was Arsenal's impressive form in late summer, Wenger commented that his team could go the entire season undefeated.[lower-alpha 1]

Arsenal's kit sponsorship with O2 came into action in the 2002–03 season, replacing SEGA Dreamcast.[8]

Transfers

Wenger appointed midfielder Patrick Vieira as captain after Tony Adams announced his retirement from football.[9] Defender Lee Dixon left the club after 14 years, retiring at the age of 38.[10] Arsenal did not spend big in the transfer market unlike their rivals and only made subtle additions to the squad: World Cup winner Gilberto Silva and defender Pascal Cygan. English duo Martin Keown and goalkeeper David Seaman extended their stay at the club for two and one more years respectively.

In the January transfer window, defender Matthew Upson was sold to Birmingham City and midfielder Steve Sidwell joined Reading on an undisclosed fee.[11] Goalkeeper Guillaume Warmuz signed a short-term contract with Arsenal, as cover for Seaman, Stuart Taylor and Rami Shaaban.[11]

In

No. Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Ref
18 DF Pascal Cygan Lille £2,100,000 11 July 2002 [12]
19 MF Gilberto Silva Atlético Mineiro £4,500,000 7 August 2002 [13]
24 GK Rami Shaaban Djurgården Undisclosed 30 August 2002 [14]
20 GK Guillaume Warmuz Lens Undisclosed 31 January 2003 [15]

Out

No. Position Player Transferred to Fee Date Ref
2 DF Lee Dixon Retired 1 July 2002 [10]
6 DF Tony Adams Retired 1 July 2002 [16]
37 FW Carlin Itonga Released 1 July 2002 [17]
13 GK Alex Manninger Espanyol £960,000 4 July 2002 [18]
40 MF Rohan Ricketts Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Free transfer 13 July 2002 [19]
24 GK Richard Wright Everton £3,500,000 24 July 2002 [20]
45 MF Steve Sidwell Reading Undisclosed 20 January 2003 [21]
20 DF Matthew Upson Birmingham City £2,500,000 22 January 2003 [22]

Pre-season

To prepare for the upcoming season Arsenal played a number of friendlies. On 17 June, they played Stevenage for Paul Fairclough's managerial testimonial, then travelled abroad to play Austrian teams Neuberg, and Rapid Wien, before competing in the Tri-team pre-season tournament, also in Austria, winning matches against both Panathinaikos and Roma. Their last match in Austria consisted of a strong 3-1 win against 1860 Munich, before travelling to Belgium to play Beveren, and eventually back to England, beating Barnet in their final pre-season game.

17 July 2002 (2002-07-17) Paul Fairclough Testimonial Stevenage Borough 1–6 Arsenal Stevenage
20:00 BST Trott  40' Report Juan  27'
Edu  57'
Chilvers  68'
Brown  75'
Paulinho  82'
Barrett  83'
Stadium: Broadhall Way
26 July 2002 (2002-07-26) Friendly SV Neuberg 2–8 Arsenal Oberwart
19:00 CEST Zilić  ?', ?' Report Aliadière  ?', ?'
Bergkamp
Edu
Henry  ?', ?'
Wiltord
Tavlaridis
Stadium: Oberwart Stadium
Attendance: 3,500[23] or 5,000[24]
27 July 2002 (2002-07-27) Friendly Rapid Wien 0–0 Arsenal Eisenstadt
20:00 CEST Report Stadium: Linden Stadium
1 August 2002 (2002-08-01) Tri-team pre-Season Tournament Arsenal 1–0 Panathinaikos Kapfenberg
19:00 CEST Wiltord  28' Report Stadium: Franz Fekete Stadium
1 August 2002 (2002-08-01) Tri-team pre-Season Tournament Arsenal 2–1 Roma Kapfenberg
21:00 CEST Henry  4'
Aliadière  44'
Report Batistuta  17' Stadium: Franz Fekete Stadium
3 August 2002 (2002-08-03) Friendly 1860 Munich 1–3 Arsenal Innsbruck
19:30 CEST Agostino  67' Report Henry  44', 83', 88'
4 August 2002 (2002-08-04) Friendly Beveren 1–1 Arsenal Beveren
19:30 CEST Wostijn  55' Report Barrett  66'
6 August 2002 (2002-08-06) Friendly Barnet 1–2 Arsenal Barnet
19:45 BST Arber  60' Report Kanu  22'
Upson  80'
Stadium: Underhill Stadium

Mid-Season Friendlies

During the season, Arsenal played a number of friendlies at their training ground in London Colney. The dates and details of these matches are displayed below.

11 September 2002 (2002-09-11) Friendly Arsenal 3–0 Reading London Colney
Cygan  25'
Sidwell  73'
Juan  88' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre
15 October 2002 (2002-10-15) Friendly Arsenal 5–1 Queens Park Rangers London Colney
11:00 BST Noble  49'
Pires  60'
Tavlaridis  73'
Bentley  80'
Edu  90'
Report Doudou  17' Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre
3 December 2002 (2002-12-03) Friendly Arsenal 3–0 Millwall London Colney
Kanu  61' (pen.), 74'
Jeffers  63'
Report Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre
14 January 2003 (2003-01-14) Friendly Arsenal 2–0 Luton Town London Colney
Jeffers  19', 52' Report Stadium: Arsenal Training Centre

FA Community Shield

As Premier League and FA Cup winners, Arsenal contested the 2002 FA Community Shield against league runners-up Liverpool. Gilberto, making his debut for Arsenal in the second half as a substitute, scored the winning goal, in a match where the team missed numerous chances.[25]

11 August 2002 (2002-08-11) Final Arsenal 1–0 Liverpool Cardiff
14:00 BST Gilberto Silva  68' Report Stadium: Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 67,337
Referee: Alan Wiley

Premier League

A total of 20 teams competed in the Premier League in the 2002–03 season. Each team played 38 matches; two against every other team and one match at each club's stadium. Three points were awarded for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. At the end of the season the top two teams qualified for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League; teams in third and fourth needed to play a qualifier.[26]

August–October

"We're all fighting for second place now. It was demoralising. They just pass and move, pass and move. You find yourself working for nothing."

—Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt, 28 September 2002[27]

Arsenal began the season with a 2–0 home victory against promoted Birmingham City; goals from Thierry Henry and Sylvain Wiltord extended the club's winning run to fourteen matches – a new top-flight record.[28] A late equaliser by Wiltord in their next match at West Ham United earned Arsenal a point, having trailed 2–0 in the first half.[29] Three days later, a 5–2 win against West Bromwich Albion moved Arsenal to the top of the league table.[30] Although they drew to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, having lost captain Vieira through a sending-off,[31] a win against Manchester City meant Arsenal leapfrogged local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to first position.[32] A 3–0 win at Charlton Athletic on 15 September 2002 pleased Wenger, who indicated after the match the league was theirs to lose: "We know we can win the league. We know we can be stronger. At this stage last season we were not as good as we are now."[33] Striker Kanu scored a stoppage time winner against Bolton Wanderers to win their eleventh successive home game.[34]

At Elland Road, Leeds United hosted Arsenal on 28 September 2002. Goals from Kolo Touré and Henry and a brace from Kanu ensured Arsenal eclipsed Nottingham Forest's record of 22 away league games without defeat[35] and scored in 47 consecutive league matches, breaking Chesterfield Town's achievement.[36] Wenger hailed the performance as "edging nearer to perfection",[37] adding it evoked memories of the Ajax team in the 1970s: "We are playing great, 'Total Football'. Danger comes from everywhere."[38] Leeds manager Terry Venables agreed: "Manchester United have been exceptional for 10 years – but I've not seen anything as good as that."[35]

Arsenal started October with a 3–1 win against Sunderland, breaking Manchester United's Premier League record of 30 matches unbeaten.[39] They however suffered their first defeat of the season, against Everton; teenager Wayne Rooney scored from long range in the last minute of the match.[40] Wenger used his post-match press conference to praise the striker: "At that age, Rooney is already a complete footballer. The guy can play. He's the best English under-20 I've seen since I came here [in 1996]."[41] In spite of dominating their next match against Blackburn Rovers – "27 goal attempts, 14 on target,"[42] Arsenal were beaten 2–1; the winning goal was scored by Dwight Yorke in the second half.[42] It was the team's third consecutive defeat in all competitions, their worst run since November 2000, and moved league leaders Liverpool four points clear at the top of the table.[42]

November–February

A Steve Marlet own goal gave Arsenal a much-needed 1–0 win against Fulham, ceasing their run of four defeats on 3 November 2002.[43] Another 1–0 win, this time against Newcastle United moved Arsenal one point behind leaders Liverpool.[44] Vieira's performance in particular was plauded in The Guardian as a "demonstration of tackling, control, awareness and movement that was exceptional even by his standards."[45] In the North London derby on 16 November 2002, Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotpsur 3–0 to go back at the top of the league table.[46] The opening goal, scored by Henry was later voted the Goal of the Season by viewers of ITV's The Premiership,[47] having picked up the ball from Arsenal's side of the pitch and running past the opposition defence to shoot past goalkeeper Kasey Keller.[48] At St Mary's Stadium, Arsenal lost 3–2 to Southampton; striker James Beattie scored twice against an Arsenal defence, who conceded three goals in total for the first time since May 2001.[49] Defender Sol Campbell had been sent off in the match, and was suspended for a further game, against Manchester United. Arsenal ended the month with a 3–1 victory over visitors Aston Villa; midfielder Robert Pires scoring for the second successive league match and Henry adding a further two goals.[50]

Arsenal faced Manchester United at Old Trafford on 7 December 2002; the home team had beaten title challengers Liverpool the previous weekend. Manchester United opened the scoring in the 21st minute – a poor clearance by Cygan allowed Juan Sebastián Verón to score.[51] Arsenal goalkeeper Rami Shaaban was substituted before the start of the second half, having pulled a thigh muscle.[51] He was replaced by Stuart Taylor, who was helpless to prevent Paul Scholes from scoring a second goal, 15 minutes before the final whistle.[51] A 1–1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur[52] was followed by a win against Middlesbrough; a goal apiece from Campbell and Pires meant Arsenal were top of the table on Christmas.[53] On Boxing Day, Arsenal came from a goal down to beat West Brom 2–1; in doing so, they extended their lead at the top to four points.[54] Three days later, Arsenal's lead was increased to five points, having drawn with Liverpool.[55]

In spite of conceding two late goals against Chelsea, Arsenal won by a solitary goal on New Year's Day to maintain their lead.[56] Two goals from Henry against Birmingham City took his total for the club to 100 goals in all competitions;[57] Wenger declared the display – a 4–0 win, as his team's best since beating Leeds United in September.[58] Henry scored a hat-trick for Arsenal against West Ham United on 19 January 2003[59] but the team drew at Liverpool in spite of a polished performance; Emile Heskey headered the ball into the net, scoring for the home team after 90 minutes.[60] On 1 February 2003, Pires scored a late goal against Fulham, extending Arsenal's lead to six points at the top.[61] This was followed by a 1–1 draw against Newcastle United; manager Sir Bobby Robson after the game criticised referee Neale Barry for his decision to send off midfielder Laurent Robert and Dennis Bergkamp's role in the dismissal, suggesting he "wasn't trying to play the ball to anybody. He kicked the ball against Laurent – I've seen other players do that and I don't like it."[62] Arsenal beat Manchester City 5–1 in their final trip to Maine Road on 22 February 2003. The first four goals, all scored before the half-hour, came at a time when "[Alex] Ferguson ordered the radio to be switched before they reached Old Trafford, presumably in ghastly silence."[63]

March–May

"I've always plumped for Arsenal, until now. It seemed to me earlier in the season they could score goals whenever they wanted. But they've seen all these points being lost and, without sitting on the fence, I really don't have a clue now. It's all up for grabs."

—Manager Graham Taylor, 5 April 2003[64]

On 2 March 2003, Arsenal opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the table, winning 2–0 against Charlton Athletic.[65] The result was enough for Irish bookmaker Paddy Power to pay out on punters backing Arsenal to retain their lead, despite Manchester United having a game in hand.[66] The gap was cut to two points after Arsenal suffered their first defeat in 2003, against Blackburn Rovers.[67] By the time Arsenal played Everton on 23 March 2003, they were displaced at the top of the table by Manchester United. A goal by Vieira moved the team two points clear once more.[68]

An own goal scored by Touré meant Freddie Ljungberg's opener against Aston Villa was cancelled out and the match ended in a draw, albeit helping Arsenal back to first position on goal difference.[69] Leading up to the potential championship decider against Manchester United on 16 April 2003, Wenger was adamant his team were mentally ready to retain the title: "We want to be a team who makes history. That's what's really driving us on. We are not worrying about United too much. We are just concentrating on expressing our togetherness, our mental strength and our qualities. We have enough players who can win this game."[70] Having conceded a first half goal scored by Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arsenal overturned Manchester United's lead before Ryan Giggs equalised for the away team.[71] The match ended 2–2; Campbell was sent off for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjær and was banned the rest of the season, whereas Vieira limped off with an injury.[71] Although the result helped Manchester United move back top, they had played one game more than Arsenal.[71] Arsenal won their next match at Middlesbrough,[72] but squandered a two-goal lead away to Bolton Wanderers in the last ten minutes. The result, "a big blow" for Arsenal's title hopes,[73] meant the championship was now in Manchester United's favour.[73]

With Manchester United beating Charlton Athletic 4–1 on 3 May 2003, Arsenal, a day later, needed a win against Leeds United to restore any hope of finishing top of the league.[74] In a five-goal match, an 88th-minute goal by Mark Viduka ensured Leeds United's survival in the top division and Manchester United's recapture of the Premiership.[75] Wenger revoked suggestion that the league campaign was a "failure", arguing his team were consistent:

Of course we want to win the league but I think the most difficult thing for the club is to be consistent and we have been remarkably consistent. We are in the cup final; we lose the league to a team who spends 50% more money every year – last year they bought a player for £30m pounds when they lost the championship. They will do the same next year and we [have] done miracles just to fight with them.[76]

Arsenal won their final two matches of the league season, against Southampton – where Pires and Jermaine Pennant both scored a hat-trick[77] – and Sunderland, ending the season with 78 points.[78]

18 August 2002 (2002-08-18) 1 Arsenal 2–0 Birmingham City London
16:05 BST Henry  9'
Wiltord  24'
Report Purse  24'
Cissé  69'  73'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,018
Referee: Mike Riley
24 August 2002 (2002-08-24) 2 West Ham United 2–2 Arsenal London
15:00 BST J. Cole  44'
Kanouté  53'
Řepka  63'
Moncur  87'
Report Bergkamp  18'
Edu  42'
A. Cole  53'
Henry  65'
Keown  68'
Vieira  75'
Wiltord  88'
Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 35,048
Referee: Neale Barry
27 August 2002 (2002-08-27) 3 Arsenal 5–2 West Bromwich Albion London
20:00 BST Cole  3'
Lauren  21'
Edu  23'
Wiltord  24', 77'
Keown  67'
Campbell  72'
Aliadière  90'
Report McInnes  19'
Clement  39'
Dobie  52'
Roberts  87'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,920
Referee: Paul Durkin
1 September 2002 (2002-09-01) 4 Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal London
16:05 BST Lampard  7'
Le Saux  12'
Zola  34'
de Lucas  42'
Grønkjær  54'
Melchiot  82'
Report Vieira  33'  50'
Wiltord  55'
Touré  60'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 40,037
Referee: Andy D'Urso
10 September 2002 (2002-09-10) 5 Arsenal 2–1 Manchester City London
20:00 BST Wiltord  26'
Vieira  37'
Henry  42'
Report Anelka  29'
Distin  35'
Benarbia  22'  84'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,878
Referee: Clive Wilkes
14 September 2002 (2002-09-14) 6 Charlton Athletic 0–3 Arsenal London
15:00 BST Report Keown  14'
A. Cole  26'
Henry  44'
Wiltord  67'
Luzhny  80'
Edu  88'
Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 26,080
Referee: Steve Dunn
21 September 2002 (2002-09-21) 7 Arsenal 2–1 Bolton Wanderers London
15:00 BST Keown  19'
Henry  26'
Kanu  90+3'
Report Farrelly  47'
Holdsworth  55'
Campo  8'  79'
Jääskeläinen  82'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,974
Referee: David Pugh
28 September 2002 (2002-09-28) 8 Leeds United 1–4 Arsenal Leeds
12:00 BST Smith  6'
Dacourt  17'
Bakke  75'
Bowyer  76'
Kewell  85'
Report Kanu  9', 86'
Touré  20'
Vieira  40'
Henry  46'
Campbell  48'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 40,199
Referee: Alan Wiley
6 October 2002 (2002-10-06) 9 Arsenal 3–1 Sunderland London
14:00 BST Kanu  3', 9'
Vieira  45+2'
Report Craddock  83' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 37,902
Referee: David Elleray
19 October 2002 (2002-10-19) 10 Everton 2–1 Arsenal Liverpool
15:00 BST Radzinski  22'
Weir  39'
Pembridge  45+1'
Linderoth  89'
Rooney  90'
Report Ljungberg  8'
Edu  90+4'
Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 39,038
Referee: Uriah Rennie
26 October 2002 (2002-10-26) 11 Arsenal 1–2 Blackburn Rovers London
15:00 BST Edu  45'
Henry  83'
Report Edu  6' (o.g.)
Østenstad  37'
Johansson  45'
Yorke  51'
Flitcroft  70'  79'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,064
Referee: Graham Barber
3 November 2002 (2002-11-03) 12 Fulham 0–1 Arsenal London
14:00 GMT Djetou  49' Report Marlet  31' (o.g.)
Cygan  35'
Edu  67'
Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 18,800
Referee: Jeff Winter
9 November 2002 (2002-11-09) 13 Arsenal 1–0 Newcastle United London
15:00 GMT Wiltord  25' Report Griffin  57'
Hugo Viana  68'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,121
Referee: Mike Dean
16 November 2002 (2002-11-16) 14 Arsenal 3–0 Tottenham Hotspur London
15:00 GMT Henry  13'
Ljungberg  55'
Wiltord  71'
Report Davies  23'  27'
Poyet  49'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,152
Referee: Mike Riley
23 November 2002 (2002-11-23) 15 Southampton 3–2 Arsenal Southampton
15:00 GMT Beattie  45+3', 58' (pen.)
Delgado  67'
Marsden  70'
Report Bergkamp  36'
Campbell  57'
A. Cole  60'
Pires  79'
Vieira  90+3'
Stadium: St Mary's Stadium
Attendance: 31,797
Referee: Paul Durkin
30 November 2002 (2002-11-30) 16 Arsenal 3–1 Aston Villa London
15:00 GMT Pires  17'
Henry  49', 82' (pen.)
Luzhny  54'
Henry  87'
Report Hitzlsperger  64',  69'
Taylor  84'
Dublin  90+2'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,090
Referee: Graham Barber
7 December 2002 17 Manchester United 2–0 Arsenal Manchester
12:15 GMT Verón  22'
Scholes  73'
Report Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 67,650
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
15 December 2002 18 Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Arsenal London
14:00 GMT Ziege  11' Report Pires  45+1' (pen.) Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 36,076
Referee: Neale Barry
21 December 2002 19 Arsenal 2–0 Middlesbrough London
15:00 GMT Campbell  45+1'
Pires  90+1'
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,003
Referee: Steve Dunn
26 December 2002 20 West Bromwich Albion 1–2 Arsenal West Bromwich
14:00 GMT Dichio  3' Report Jeffers  48'
Henry  85'
Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 27,025
Referee: Graham Poll
29 December 2002 21 Arsenal 1–1 Liverpool London
16:05 GMT Henry  79' (pen.) Report Murphy  70' (pen.) Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,074
Referee: Jeff Winter
1 January 2003 22 Arsenal 3–2 Chelsea London
15:00 GMT Desailly  9' (o.g.)
van Bronckhorst  81'
Henry  82'
Report Stanić  85'
Petit  86'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,096
Referee: Uriah Rennie
12 January 2003 23 Birmingham City 0–4 Arsenal Birmingham
16:05 GMT Report Henry  6', 70'
Pires  29'
Lauren  67'
Stadium: St. Andrews
Attendance: 29,505
Referee: Steve Bennett
19 January 2003 24 Arsenal 3–1 West Ham United London
14:00 GMT Henry  14' (pen.), 71', 86' Report Defoe  40' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,053
Referee: Mike Dean
29 January 2003 25 Liverpool 2–2 Arsenal Liverpool
20:00 GMT Riise  52'
Heskey  90+1'
Report Pires  9'
Bergkamp  63'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,668
Referee: Mark Halsey
1 February 2003 26 Arsenal 2–1 Fulham London
15:00 GMT Pires  17', 90+1' Report Malbranque  29' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,050
Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme
9 February 2003 27 Newcastle United 1–1 Arsenal Newcastle upon Tyne
16:05 GMT Robert  53' Report Henry  27' Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 52,157
Referee: Neale Barry
22 February 2003 28 Manchester City 1–5 Arsenal Manchester
15:00 GMT Anelka  87' Report Bergkamp  4'
Pires  12'
Henry  15'
Campbell  19'
Vieira  53'
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 34,960
Referee: Paul Durkin
2 March 2003 29 Arsenal 2–0 Charlton Athletic London
12:00 GMT Jeffers  26'
Pires  45+1'
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,015
Referee: Rob Styles
15 March 2003 30 Blackburn Rovers 2–0 Arsenal Blackburn
15:00 GMT Duff  22'
Tugay  52'
Report Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 29,840
Referee: Steve Bennett
23 March 2003 31 Arsenal 2–1 Everton London
16:05 GMT Cygan  8'
Vieira  64'
Report Rooney  56' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,042
Referee: Alan Wiley
5 April 2003 32 Aston Villa 1–1 Arsenal Birmingham
15:00 BST Touré  71' (o.g.) Report Ljungberg  56' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 42,602
Referee: Uriah Rennie
16 April 2003 33 Arsenal 2–2 Manchester United London
20:00 BST Henry  51', 62' Report van Nistelrooy  24'
Giggs  63'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,164
Referee: Mark Halsey
19 April 2003 34 Middlesbrough 0–2 Arsenal Middlesbrough
15:00 BST Report Wiltord  48'
Henry  82'
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 34,724
Referee: David Elleray
26 April 2003 35 Bolton Wanderers 2–2 Arsenal Bolton
12:30 BST Djorkaeff  74'
Keown  84' (o.g.)
Laville  90+2'
Report Wiltord  47'
Pires  56'
Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 27,253
Referee: Andy D'Urso
4 May 2003 36 Arsenal 2–3 Leeds United London
16:05 BST Henry  31'
Bergkamp  63'
Report Kewell  5'
Harte  48'
Viduka  88'
Stadium: Highbury
Referee: Alan Wiley
7 May 2003 37 Arsenal 6–1 Southampton London
19:45 BST Pires  8', 22', 46'
Pennant  15', 18', 25'
Report Tessem  34' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,052
Referee: Uriah Rennie
11 May 2003 38 Sunderland 0–4 Arsenal Sunderland
15:00 BST Report Henry  7'
Ljungberg  39', 78', 88'
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 40,188
Referee: Paul Durkin

Classification

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Manchester United (C) 38 25 8 5 74 34 +40 83 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Arsenal 38 23 9 6 85 42 +43 78
3 Newcastle United 38 21 6 11 63 48 +15 69 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round
4 Chelsea 38 19 10 9 68 38 +30 67
5 Liverpool 38 18 10 10 61 41 +20 64 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[lower-alpha 2]
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. Wenger's actual quote was: "It's not impossible. I know it will be difficult for us to go through the season unbeaten. But if we keep the right attitude it's possible we can do it."[7]
  2. Since Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup via the league, their place in the UEFA Cup as League Cup winners reverted to the league and was awarded to Blackburn Rovers as the highest-placed team not already qualified for European competitions.

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 23 9 6 85 42  +43 78 15 2 2 47 20  +27 8 7 4 38 22  +16

Source: [79]

Results by round

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHA
ResultWDWDWWWWWLLWWWLWLDWWDWWWDWDWWLWDDWDLWW
Position34121111122221111111111111111111222222
Source: [80]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup

Arsenal entered the competition in the third round, receiving a bye as a Premier League club. Their opening match was a 2–0 home win against Oxford United on 4 January 2003.[81] Bergkamp scored his 100th goal for the club and an own goal by defender Scott McNiven ensured progression to the next round.[82] Arsenal faced non-league side Farnborough Town but the match switched from Farnborough's ground at Cherrywood Road to Highbury due to concerns over safety.[83] Farnborough as the home team began the match in disastrous fashion, conceding a goal scored by Campbell in the 19th minute, and going down to ten men after Christian Lee was sent off for a professional foul. Francis Jeffers scored twice before Rocky Baptiste added a consolation, beating Cygan for pace and despite having his first shot saved by goalkeeper Taylor, he managed to lift the ball over him and into the net. Lauren and Bergkamp each scored in the final 15 minutes to give Arsenal a 5–1 victory.[84]

Arsenal's fifth round match was away to league rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on 16 February 2003. After Giggs missed the chance to score past an open goal, midfielder Edu gave Arsenal the lead through a free kick which took a deflection off David Beckham's shoulder. Wiltord scored the second goal of the match in the 52nd minute, running onto a pass from Edu and side-footing the ball past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.[85] Vieira said of the performance: "We knew when we lost here in the league that we had lost the battle in midfield. We had to put that right, and we did."[86] In the sixth round, Arsenal were drawn at home to Chelsea in a repeat of the previous season's final.[87] Chelsea defender John Terry put his team ahead with a header from a set piece before Arsenal responded through Jeffers and Henry. Frank Lampard scored a late equaliser for the visiting team meaning the match was replayed at Stamford Bridge.[88] An own goal by Terry and a strike by Wiltord in the space of seven minutes during the replay gave Arsenal an early lead against Chelsea. Despite going down to ten men after Cygan was sent off and Terry scoring from a header, the away team scored a third goal through Lauren to ensure progression into the semi-finals.[89] In the semi-final against Sheffield United on 13 April 2003 at Old Trafford, Ljungberg scored the winning goal to help Arsenal reach their third successive FA Cup final appearance.[90] The match was remembered for Seaman, who on his 1,000th appearance in senior football produced a late save to deny Sheffield United from equalising.[91]

In the 2003 FA Cup Final against Southampton, a goal from Pires, scored in the first half was enough to ensure Arsenal won their ninth FA Cup, becoming the first team to retain the trophy in over 20 years.[92] Wenger commented after the game that his team "got the trophy we wanted"[93] while defender Martin Keown said the FA Cup win was "the best ever".[93] Winning captain David Seaman felt the disappointment of losing out to Manchester United in the league spurred the team on.[93]

4 January 2003 (2003-01-04) Third round Arsenal 2–0 Oxford United London
15:00 GMT Bergkamp  15'
McNiven  67' (o.g.)
Report Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,432
Referee: Clive Wilkes
25 January 2003 (2003-01-25) Fourth round Farnborough Town 1–5 Arsenal London
15:00 GMT Baptiste  71' Report Campbell  19'
Jeffers  23', 68'
Bergkamp  74'
Lauren  78'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,108
Referee: Alan Wiley
15 February 2003 (2003-02-15) Fifth round Manchester United 0–2 Arsenal Manchester
12:15 GMT Report Edu  35'
Wiltord  52'
Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 67,209
Referee: Jeff Winter
8 March 2003 (2003-03-08) Quarter-finals Arsenal 2–2 Chelsea London
17:15 GMT Jeffers  37'
Henry  45'
Report Terry  4'
Lampard  84'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,104
Referee: Paul Durkin
25 March 2003 (2003-03-25) Quarter-finals replay Chelsea 1–3 Arsenal London
19:45 GMT Terry  79' Report Terry  24' (o.g.)
Wiltord  33'
Lauren  82'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 41,456
Referee: David Elleray
13 April 2003 (2003-04-13) Semi-finals Arsenal 1–0 Sheffield United Manchester
13:30 GMT Ljungberg  34' Report Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 59,170
Referee: Graham Poll
17 May 2003 (2003-05-17) Final Arsenal 1–0 Southampton Cardiff
15:00 GMT Pires  38' Report Stadium: Millennium Stadium
Attendance: 73,726
Referee: Graham Barber

League Cup

Together, with the other clubs playing in European football, Arsenal entered the Football League Cup in the third round, where they were drawn at home to Premier League club Sunderland. Although Arsenal went two goals ahead in the first half, Sunderland responded, scoring three times in 15 minutes.[94] The result was Wenger's fifth defeat in six matches.

6 November 2002 (2002-11-06) Third round Arsenal 2–3 Sunderland London
19:45 GMT Pires  12'
Jeffers  33'
Report Kyle  56'
Stewart  70', 72'
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 19,059
Referee: Alan Wiley

UEFA Champions League

Group stage

Arsenal greet their fans before their game at Auxerre, 2 October 2002

Arsenal were drawn in Group A, along with German club Borussia Dortmund, Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven and French side Auxerre.[95] A deflected goal by Bergkamp and a counterattack, finished off by Ljungberg on his comeback from injury gave Arsenal the perfect start in the group stages, at home to Borussia Dortmund.[96] At the Philips Stadion, Arsenal produced an impressive display against PSV, winning 4–0.[97] It was their first win in European football away from home in 19 months[97] and the match set a new club record, as Gilberto scored the fastest goal in the competition at 20.07 seconds.[98]

Against Auxerre, Gilberto scored for the second successive matchday to take Arsenal to nine points, but goals from Olivier Kapo and Khalilou Fadiga in the return game inflicted Arsenal's first defeat in the Champions League.[99] In spite of taking the lead against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 5, Arsenal conceded two goals to lose 2–1.[100] A fourth straight defeat represented the club's worst run in 19 years[100] but with PSV beating Auxerre, Arsenal qualified for the second group stage with a game to spare – that match ending in a 0–0 draw against PSV.[101]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Arsenal 6 3 1 2 9 4 +5 10 Advance to second group stage
2 Borussia Dortmund 6 3 1 2 8 7 +1 10
3 Auxerre 6 2 1 3 4 7 3 7 Transfer to UEFA Cup
4 PSV Eindhoven 6 1 3 2 5 8 3 6
Source: RSSSF
17 September 2002 (2002-09-17) 1 Arsenal 2–0 Borussia Dortmund London, England
20:45 CEST Bergkamp  62'
Ljungberg  77'
Report  14' Dedê Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 34,907
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden)
25 September 2002 (2002-09-25) 2 PSV Eindhoven 0–4 Arsenal Eindhoven, Netherlands
20:45 CEST Ooijer  20'
Vennegoor of Hesselink  55'
Report  1' Gilberto Silva
 34' Lauren
 66' Ljungberg
 81', 90+2' Henry
Stadium: Philips Stadion
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
2 October 2002 (2002-10-02) 3 Auxerre 0–1 Arsenal Auxerre, France
20:45 CEST Jaurès  77' Report  48' Gilberto Stadium: Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps
Attendance: 21,000
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
22 October 2002 (2002-10-22) 4 Arsenal 1–2 Auxerre London, England
20:45 CET Kanu  53'
Campbell  68'
Vieira  87'
Report  8' Kapo
 27' Fadiga
 42' Boumsong
 56' Faye
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,206
Referee: Domenico Messina (Italy)
30 October 2002 (2002-10-30) 5 Borussia Dortmund 2–1 Arsenal Dortmund, Germany
20:45 CET Rosický  38', 62' (pen.)
Reuter  77'
Report  18' Henry Stadium: Westfalenstadion
Attendance: 52,000
Referee: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain)
12 November 2002 (2002-11-12) 6 Arsenal 0–0 PSV Eindhoven London, England
20:45 CET  29'  35' Touré Report  25' Vogel
 45+1' Ooijer
 65' Hofland
 90' Vennegoor of Hesselink
 90+2' van Bommel
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,274
Referee: Tom Henning Øvrebø (Norway)

Second group stage

Henry scored his first hat-trick in Europe for Arsenal against Roma on 27 November 2002 with the player stating; "It's wonderful to score a hat-trick but it's even more important that I did so in a game we've won."[102] The result was followed with four consecutive draws – three at home against Roma, Valencia and Ajax. Arsenal only needed a draw to progress into the knockout stages, but lost 2–1 to Valencia at the Mestalla on 19 March 2003.[103] Reflecting later on the Champions League campaign, Wenger commented that "we lost our qualification at home".[104]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Valencia 6 2 3 1 5 6 1 9 Advance to knockout stage
2 Ajax 6 1 5 0 6 5 +1 8
3 Arsenal 6 1 4 1 6 5 +1 7
4 Roma 6 1 2 3 7 8 1 5
Source: RSSSF
27 November 2002 (2002-11-27) 7 Roma 1–3 Arsenal Rome, Italy
20:45 CET Cassano  4'
Samuel  41'
Emerson  74'
Batistuta  80'
Report  6', 70', 75' Henry Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Ľuboš Micheľ (Slovakia)
10 December 2002 (2002-12-10) 8 Arsenal 0–0 Valencia London, England
20:45 CET Report  72' Angulo Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 34,793
Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)
18 February 2002 (2002-02-18) 9 Arsenal 1–1 Ajax London, England
20:45 CET Wiltord  5'
Pires  90+1'
Report  17' de Jong
 56' Pasanen
 79' Lobonț
 82' Boukhari
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,427
Referee: Lucílio Batista (Portugal)
26 February 2003 (2003-02-26) 10 Ajax 0–0 Arsenal Amsterdam, Netherlands
20:45 CET Report  39' Cole
 75' Vieira
Stadium: Amsterdam Arena
Attendance: 51,025
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
11 March 2003 (2003-03-11) 11 Arsenal 1–1 Roma London, England
20:45 CET Vieira  12'
van Bronckhorst  29'
Report  28' Cassano
 32' Samuel
 45+2' Cassano
 67' Aldair
Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 35,472
Referee: Urs Meier (Germany)
19 March 2003 (2003-03-19) 12 Valencia 2–1 Arsenal Valencia, Spain
20:45 CET Carew  34', 57'
Carboni  36'
Pellegrino  54'
Aimar  76'
Report  42' Vieira
 49' Henry
 90+3' Pires
Stadium: Mestalla Stadium
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

Player statistics

Arsenal used a total of 30 players during the 2002–03 season and there were 17 different goalscorers. There were also two squad members who did not make a first-team appearance in the campaign. Henry featured in 55 matches, three of which he came on as a substitute.

The team scored a total of 112 goals in all competitions. The highest goalscorer was Henry, with 32 goals, followed by Pires who scored 16 goals. Four Arsenal players were sent off during the season: Vieira, Cygan, Campbell (twice) and Touré.

Key

Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with number struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.

No. Pos. Nat. Name Premier League FA Cup League Cup Community Shield Champions League Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK  ENG David Seaman 2805000109043000
3 DF  ENG Ashley Cole 30 (1)13000109043 (1)170
4 MF  FRA Patrick Vieira 243500010120424111
5 DF  ENG Martin Keown 22 (2)05000104 (1)032 (3)070
7 MF  FRA Robert Pires 21 (5)145 (1)111008 (1)035 (7)1620
8 MF  SWE Freddie Ljungberg 19 (1)63 (1)100007 (1)229 (3)900
9 FW  ENG Francis Jeffers 2 (14)26311001 (4)010 (18)610
10 FW  NED Dennis Bergkamp 23 (6)42 (2)200116 (1)132 (9)730
11 FW  FRA Sylvain Wiltord 27 (7)103 (4)2001010 (2)141 (13)1320
12 DF  CMR Lauren 26 (1)26200109 (1)042 (2)480
13 GK  ENG Stuart Taylor 7 (1)02010001 (1)011 (2)000
14 FW  FRA Thierry Henry 37242 (3)1001012752 (3)32100
15 MF  ENG Ray Parlour 14 (5)0600010(2)021 (7)040
16 MF  NED Giovanni van Bronckhorst 9 (11)13 (2)010002 (2)015 (15)120
17 MF  BRA Edu 12 (6)25 (1)100101 (3)019 (10)350
18 DF  FRA Pascal Cygan 16 (2)12000009 (2)027 (4)141
19 MF  BRA Gilberto Silva 32 (3)01 (2)000(1)111 (1)244 (7)310
21 MF  ENG Jermaine Pennant 1 (4)30010000 (1)02 (4)300
22 DF  UKR Oleh Luzhny 11 (6)02010003 (1)017 (7)030
23 DF  ENG Sol Campbell 33251001010049342
24 GK  SWE Rami Shaaban 30000000205000
25 FW  NGR Kanu 10 (7)51010002 (6)114 (13)600
26 DF  LAT Igors Stepanovs 20001000104000
27 DF  GRE Stathis Tavlaridis 0 (1)0001000001 (1)000
28 MF  CIV Kolo Touré 9 (17)23 (2)010(1)03 (4)016 (24)221
29 DF  GER Moritz Volz 0000100000(1)000
30 FW  FRA Jérémie Aliadière (3)100000000(3)100
39 MF  ENG David Bentley 00(1)00000000000
40 MF  ENG Ryan Garry 1000(1)000001 (1)000
45 DF  ENG Justin Hoyte (1)0000000000000
49 MF  DEN Sebastian Svärd 00101000002000

Source:[105]

See also

Notes

    References

    1. Winter, Henry (23 December 2001). "Arsenal pride comes after a fall". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    2. "Arsenal's road to glory". BBC Sport. 8 May 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    3. "Arsenal clinch Double". BBC Sport. 8 May 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    4. "Behind the Numbers: Scoring scoring Arsenal". Arsenal.com. Arsenal Football Club. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    5. "Wenger hails 'shift of power'". BBC Sport. 9 May 2002. Retrieved 11 February 2010. We wanted tonight to be a shift of power, and to take the trophy back to Highbury.
    6. Stammers, Steve (13 May 2002). "Wenger's French option". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
    7. Lipton, Martin (21 September 2002). "We Won't Lose One Match". The Mirror. London. pp. 78–79.
    8. Day, Julia (19 April 2002). "Mm02 teams up with Gunners". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
    9. "Vieira's Arsenal pledge". BBC Sport. 9 August 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
    10. "Dixon bows out". BBC Sport. 11 May 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    11. "January's Premiership transfers in full". The Guardian. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    12. "Cygan joins Arsenal". BBC Sport. 11 July 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
    13. "Silva joins Arsenal". BBC Sport. 28 July 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
    14. "Shaaban joins Arsenal". BBC Sport. 30 August 2002. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
    15. "Arsenal solve keeper crisis". BBC Sport. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
    16. Roach, Stuart (11 August 2002). "End of an Arsenal era". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    17. "End of an Arsenal era". The Telegraph. 17 August 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
    18. "Manninger joins Espanyol". BBC Sport. 4 July 2002. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
    19. "Transfers - July, 2002". BBC Sport. 13 July 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
    20. "Wright agrees Everton move". BBC Sport. 24 July 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
    21. "Sidwell joins Reading". BBC Sport. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    22. "Birmingham sign Upson". BBC Sport. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    23. "Neuberg – Arsenal London 2:8 (1:2)". Österreichischer Rundfunk Sport. 26 July 2002. Archived from the original on 26 August 2002. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
    24. "SV Marsch Neuberg". Kovacs.heimat.eu. 26 July 2002. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
    25. Williams, Richard (12 August 2002). "Arsenal show undimmed taste for titles as Silva shines". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
    26. "Rules of the Barclays Premiership competition". Premier League. Archived from the original on 11 May 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
    27. Taylor, Daniel (30 September 2002). "Wenger goes for total football domination". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    28. Walker, Michael (19 August 2002). "Champions pick up where they left off". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
    29. Brodkin, Jon (26 August 2002). "Tenacity of Defoe rattles the aristocrats". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
    30. "Slick Arsenal crush Baggies". BBC Sport. 27 August 2002. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
    31. Brodkin, Jon (2 September 2002). "Wenger hails his '10 lions' after captain cries foul". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
    32. Brodkin, Jon (11 September 2002). "Henry sends Arsenal top". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
    33. Thomas, Russell (15 September 2002). "Arsenal aim to plant their standard on foreign fields". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
    34. "Arsenal sneak late win". BBC Sport. 21 September 2002. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
    35. Barclay, Patrick (29 September 2002). "Henry shears sheepish Leeds". The Sunday Telegraph. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    36. "Arsenal blow away Leeds". BBC Sport. 28 September 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
    37. "Wenger hails 'outstanding' Arsenal". BBC Sport. 29 September 2002. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
    38. Winter, Henry (30 September 2002). "Henry perfects one-track mind". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    39. Brodkin, Jon (7 October 2002). "Arsenal add another chapter to record book". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    40. "Rooney ends Arsenal's run". BBC Sport. 19 October 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    41. Fifield, Dominic (21 October 2002). "Youngest goalscorer gets into the habit of wrecking records". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    42. Thomas, Russell (28 October 2002). "Arsenal play the beautiful game but get beaten again". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    43. Lacey, David (4 November 2002). "Marlet gifts Arsenal the points in French farce". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    44. "Arsenal ease past Newcastle". BBC Sport. 9 November 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    45. Lacey, David (11 November 2002). "Vieira drives Gunners back to top form". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
    46. "Arsenal rout Spurs". BBC Sport. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    47. "Wonder goals of Arsenal's striker". London Evening Standard. 26 November 2003. p. 70.
    48. Lacey, David (18 November 2002). "Henry beggars his neighbours". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    49. Thomas, Russell (25 November 2002). "Saints desecrate Wenger's road to Rome". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    50. Lacey, David (2 December 2002). "Arsenal salute new king as Henry claims a place in history". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    51. "Man Utd's surge continues". BBC Sport. 7 December 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    52. "Spurs let Arsenal off hook". BBC Sport. 15 December 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    53. Buckley, Will (22 December 2002). "Gunners hit target". The Observer. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    54. "Arsenal punish Baggies". BBC Sport. 26 December 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    55. "Liverpool hold Arsenal". BBC Sport. 29 December 2002. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    56. "Arsenal edge past Chelsea". BBC Sport. 1 January 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    57. "Arsenal brush Blues aside". BBC Sport. 12 January 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
    58. McCarra, Kevin (13 January 2003). "Henry's name up in lights as champions turn on power". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    59. "Henry destroys Hammers". BBC Sport. 19 January 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    60. McCarra, Kevin (30 January 2003). "Heskey heads off Gunners". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    61. Lacey, David (3 February 2003). "Pires puts gold top on Gunners' slim pickings". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    62. Spellman, Damian (10 February 2003). "Football: Angry Robson slams Bergkamp". The News Letter. Retrieved 18 June 2012. (subscription required)
    63. Taylor, Daniel (24 February 2003). "Arsenal force Ferguson to blink". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    64. Taylor, Daniel (7 April 2003). "Wenger cannot hide Arsenal's anxiety as the title race is blown wide open". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    65. Brodkin, Jon (3 March 2003). "Unstoppable Henry runs legs off Charlton". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    66. Jain, Paul (4 March 2003). "Haul or nothing; Bookies write off United title bid". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 16 June 2012. (subscription required)
    67. "Arsenal undone by Blackburn". BBC Sport. 15 March 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    68. "Arsenal back on top". BBC Sport. 23 March 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    69. "Arsenal held by Villa". BBC Sport. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    70. Brodkin, Jon; Fifield, Dominic (16 April 2003). "Winner takes all as titans collide". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    71. McCarra, Kevin (17 April 2003). "United on pole as Campbell sees red". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    72. Walker, Michael (21 April 2003). "Arsenal's faith intact as Henry eases tension". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    73. Barclay, Patrick (27 April 2003). "Wenger rues late lapses". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    74. "Man Utd close in on title". BBC Sport. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    75. McCarra, Kevin (5 May 2003). "Viduka's arrow pierces Highbury heart". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    76. Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger (Radio). London: BBC. 4 May 2003.
    77. "Arsenal hit Saints for six". BBC Sport. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    78. "Ljungberg treble sinks Sunderland". BBC Sport. 11 May 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    79. "Premier League – 2002–03". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
    80. "Arsenal – 2002–03". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
    81. "Arsenal end Oxford dream". BBC Sport. 4 January 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
    82. Burnton, Simon (6 January 2003). "Bergkamp worthy of ton of respect". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
    83. Bradley, Mark (9 January 2003). "Farnborough to switch cup tie". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
    84. "Arsenal cruise through". BBC Sport. 25 January 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
    85. "Arsenal cruise past Man Utd". BBC Sport. 16 February 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    86. Wilson, Paul (16 February 2003). "Arsenal triumph as Giggs goes missing". The Observer. London. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    87. "London giants collide". BBC Sport. 27 February 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    88. "Chelsea hold Arsenal". BBC Sport. 8 March 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    89. "Arsenal brush aside Chelsea". BBC Sport. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    90. "Arsenal sink brave Blades". BBC Sport. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
    91. McCarra, Kevin (14 April 2003). "Super Seaman defies time and gravity to end Blades odyssey". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
    92. Wilson, Paul (18 May 2003). "Pires aim is true for muted Gunners". The Observer. London. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
    93. "Keown hails 'best ever' win". BBC Sport. 17 May 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
    94. "Black Cats stun Arsenal". BBC Sport. 6 November 2002. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
    95. Walker, Michael; Chaudhary, Vivek (30 August 2002). "United renew Bayer rivalry". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
    96. Brodkin, Jon (18 September 2002). "Ljungberg fires Gunners assault". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    97. Brodkin, Jon (26 September 2002). "Quick Silva starts Arsenal goal rush". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    98. Roach, Stuart (26 September 2002). "Arsenal's quick Silva". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    99. "Auxerre stun Arsenal". BBC Sport. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    100. Brodkin, Jon (31 October 2002). "Arsenal qualify with little celebration". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    101. "Arsenal top Group". BBC Sport. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    102. Lipton, Martin (28 November 2002). "Emperor of Rome; Roma 1 Arsenal 3: Henry rocks Italians with historic treble". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 23 May 2012. (subscription required)
    103. "Arsenal crash out in Valencia". BBC Sport. 19 March 2003. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    104. Arsenal FC – End of Season 2002/03 (DVD). Arsenal Football Club. 9 June 2003. ASIN B000096KG3.
    105. "Arsenal Squad Stats – 2002/03". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.