How 2022/23 Arsenal compare to Invincibles at halfway in Premier League table
By Euan Burns
Arsenal fans are enjoying a level of performance they have not seen from their team for many years and it could end in a first Premier League title since the 2003/04 season.
Arsenal are sitting at the top of the tree with just under half of the season still to play, and they have a comfortable but not commanding lead over a Manchester City side that is struggling for consistency.
Mikel Arteta's side will not be able to match the achievement of the Invincibles in 2003/04 who didn't lose a single Premier League game, but how are they comparing to that side so far?
- How Arsenal's Invincibles went 49 games unbeaten
- The Invincible records Arsenal can break in 2022/23
- How many points did Arsenal's Invincibles get?
- Arsenal's 6 key fixtures where title will be won or lost
On this edition of TCOAG, Harry Symeou is joined by Arsenal presenter Nicole Holliday to preview Man City vs Arsenal in the FA Cup, discuss the transfer window, our midfield needs, Leandro Trossard & more! A more informal preview show than usual but it was plenty of fun! If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
2022/23 Arsenal vs 2003/04 Invincibles - Record at 19-game stage
While the mantle of becoming 'Invincibles 'again may have disappeared with the 3-1 defeat away at Manchester United, Arsenal are actually in a better position this season after 19 games than they were under Arsene Wenger in 2003/04.
Back then, Arsenal were not even top of the league at this stage. Manchester United were on an incredible winning run, while Arsenal had won three and drawn two of their last five. The Reds had a one-point lead over Arsenal who were on 45 points.
This season, Arsenal are five points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, and they have a game in hand over the current champions. The Gunners boast an incredible 50 points, meaning they are doing even better than the Invincibles. The record right now is won 16, drawn two, and lost 1, in comparison to winning 13, drawing six, and losing none.
2022/23 Arsenal vs 2003/04 Invincibles - Record vs top six
A key factor for many title-winning sides is they can turn up in the big games against their major title rivals. That gives another glimpse into whether the Arsenal side have got what it takes to go all the way and win when the big games come around later in the campaign.
Against what we consider to be the modern-day top six of Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, the current Arsenal have a great record. They were beaten by United early on, but have since defeated Spurs twice, Liverpool once, and Chelsea once.
The record in the first 19 games was also great against those same sides in 2003/04. They defeated City early on, although that was not so impressive back then, before drawing with United, and then beating Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs.
2022/23 Arsenal vs 2003/04 Invincibles - Top scorers
From the figures, it is already clear this current Arsenal side is less reliant on one goalscorer than the 2003/04 side was. Thierry Henry ended that campaign with a superb 30 goals. The next highest Arsenal scorer that year was Robert Pires with 14.
With the current Arsenal side after 19 games, the top scorer is Martin Odegaard with eight goals, which is a very healthy return for a midfielder. However, he won't end the season anywhere near Henry's 30.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka currently have seven goals each, showing the different edges to the Gunners' attack. Gabriel Jesus will be planning to add to his five goals healthily when he returns from injury.
In the Brazilian's absence, it's clear Arsenal pose a threat from multiple areas but do not possess a generational striker like Henry.
2022/23 Arsenal vs 2003/04 Invincibles - Attack and defence records
Despite the aforementioned lack of a prolific striker for this current Arsenal side, they are outscoring the 2003/04 team at the 19-game stage. Arteta's team have scored 45 goals already this season while Wenger's side had 35 at the same point.
Wenger does take the crown narrowly for the better defence though as his side had only shipped 12 after 19 games, while the 22/23 side has conceded 16 times. That does still mean that this Arsenal side's goal difference is +29, as opposed to the Invincibles' +23.
The roles of the managers
There is no getting away from the fact that Arteta is in unchartered waters here. He has won silverware with Arsenal in the past, but he has not been in a title fight with them before.
Much has been made of his temperament on the touchline and there is no getting away from the fact that he often looks stressed, but that doesn't have to mean he can't handle what's to come.
At this stage in Wenger's career, he was fighting for his third Premier League title as Arsenal boss having won in 1997/98 and 2001/02. He'd also won two FA Cups and three Community Shields. The 2003/04 side were certainly more experienced when it came to the latter stages of the season, while this Arsenal side and coach are yet to prove themselves in that regard.