Arsenal's 2003/04 Invincibles had an aura about them, which included an amazing routine before matches
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal had an amazing ritual before every match during their 2003/04 season to intimidate the opposition before the game.
The Gunners won the title that season, completing the campaign unbeaten in what was their last Premier League title win. Speaking to FourFourTwo on the 20th anniversary of the Invincibles, former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has shared a story about the presence that side had pre-match.
“During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, I hosted an evening with our [then-]three former Brazilian players, Edu, Sylvinho and Gilberto Silva,” Dein says. “Arsene was there, I was sitting next to Gilberto and I said to him, ‘Gilberto, tell me about the Invincibles.’
David Dein has shared the story of how Arsenal players “gave themselves inner strength” (Image credit: Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
“He actually stood up and told me how they’d all stand in the tunnel before the game. The tunnel at the old Highbury was pretty narrow; all of the Arsenal boys in one line, the opposition in another.
“There was a ritual. There was always the same order: at the front, Patrick would turn around to Jens and give him a nod. Jens did it to Dennis, Dennis did it to Thierry, Thierry did it to Lauren, Lauren did it to Sol, and so on. It was almost choreographed as if to say, ‘We’re going to do this’ – and they’d look at the opposition and sense fear in their eyes.
“They gave themselves inner strength when they went out.”
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
