Monday, 22 June 2020

Invincibles.




Headline says it all. 



Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and English football would change forever. 



Summer 2003. 

Players coming in were - Jens Lehmann - Kolo Toure & Phillipe Senderos. 

Players promoted from the youth team - Gael Clichy - David Bentley & Cesc Fabregas. 

 David Seaman had joined Man City. 



Season 2003-04. 


League Cup. 

Cesc Fabregas made his Arsenal debut, aged 16, against Rotherham in the 3rd round at Highbury. 
This made him the youngest ever Arsenal player. 

In my opinion, Cesc became the best Arsenal player since Dennis Bergkamp. 

Arsenal reached the semifinals and lost the 1st Leg at Highbury against Middlesbrough 1-0. 

Arsenal then lost the 2nd Leg 2-1 at Middlesbrough. 



FA Cup. 

Arsenal lost 1-0 to Man Utd in the semifinal at Villa Park. 




Champions League. 

I went to the game when Arsenal lost 3-0 at Highbury against Inter Milan in the first group game. 


Maybe, Thierry was saving himself for the San Siro. 




Inter Match ticket. 




Teams line up. 



Arsenal qualified for the knockout stage after winning their last 3 games against Dynamo Kiev & Lokomotiv Moscow at Highbury, plus a tremendous 5-1 victory against Inter, in the San Siro. 

I got some strange looks from Arsenal Fans around me, when I loudly remarked that, “he’s not Maradona”, as Ray Parlour came on as a substitute with Arsenal losing 3-0 and, they were all getting exited. 

Arsenal won the 1st Leg, 3-2, away at Celta Vigo and the 2nd Leg, 2-0 at Highbury. 

In the Quarter finals, Arsenal drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge in the 1st Leg, but lost the 2nd Leg 2-1 at Highbury. 

In my opinion, this was Arsenal’s best ever chance of winning the European Cup. 




League. 

Arsenal won 26 and drew12 games, to win the title undefeated. 

A truly remarkable achievement. 

I went to the game against Birmingham at Highbury in May to meet my old mate Hoyboy, who was coming on a rare visit. 
The only memorable moment of the day, was when we were having a drink in the White House pub in Highbury Quadrant after the game with John L, Sim & Craig S and an altercation, I don’t know why, started between Craig and a couple of blokes. 

Things got a bit lively, when suddenly the doors flew open and a coach load of “ Daventry Gooners “ came in, all trying to have a go at Craig. 

Apparently, he’d upset their two mates and, for some strange reason, they thought we were fans of the team from the Lane. 

Craig got knocked unconscious, so we put him on the floor behind us, and a Mexican stand off ensued. 

Imagine, Arsenal Fans wanting to have a row with Hoyboy, John L and myself. How ironic !!

Anyway, we explained that they weren’t getting Craig, so they climbed back on their coach and went home. 

Apparently, while all this was going on, somebody in the pub rang Vic W at the supporters club to tell him that his 4 mates were about to have a row with a coach load of Gooners, his reply?
They’ll be alright!! 

Keep the Faith Vic. 




Champions. 

Arsenal won the League after drawing 2-2 at the Lane.  


We’ve won the League at the Lane, as many times as they’ve won the League. 



You mustn’t celebrate on their pitch - Bollocks!!!




Trophy Time. 
I managed to get 2 tickets for the last game against Leicester at Highbury. 
So my Grandson and myself saw Arsenal become the “Invincibles”. 



We’re In. 




The Usual Suspects Turn Up. 





The Invincibles. 




Invincibles thank the Arsenal Fans. 


Up to 2020, Arsenal have not won the League since. 


The Emirates is going up. 




Farewell to my Boyhood Hero. 


Sadly, Jim Baxter and my Arsenal Hero, Joe Baker, both died during the season. 






Slim Jim Baxter - Privileged to have met him in 1994. 




Proud to have met him in 1994. 




That’s Our Quiz Team. 




Happy days watching him. 




Joe Baker & his good friend - Denis Law in 1962. 



Next Post Tuesday 23/6/2020. 


Barca to Cardiff. 


Comments/Questions - oldgunnersandgooners@gmail.com



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