When you think of Arsenal shirts, this one quickly comes to mind. The red and white Nike shirt with O2 as sponsor, the shirt in which Arsenal F.C. last became champions of England.
And not just any champions.
Arsenal remained undefeated for an entire season in the 2003/04 Premier League season. To this day, that is still unique in English football. Since then, Arsenal has had several strong teams, but a new league title has eluded them. That makes this shirt, more than twenty years later, still Arsenal's last championship shirt.
The Invincibles
Under Arsène Wenger, there was a fantastic team in 2003/04. Fast, technically strong, physically present and ice-cold in big moments. Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry were the main driving forces.
In 38 league matches, Arsenal never lost.
The numbers:
- 26 wins
- 12 draws
- 0 losses
- 90 points
Henry was the key player that season. With his speed, technique, and finishing, he was simply unstoppable. Bergkamp provided the creativity, Vieira controlled the midfield, and the defense was solid.
Internal links:
Dennis Bergkamp shirts
The 5 most beautiful Arsenal shirts ever
The design of the shirt
Nike kept the design clean, but there's more to this shirt than meets the eye.
The base remained true to the classic Arsenal look: a bright red body with large white sleeves. This red and white contrast has been part of the club's identity since the 1930s and was translated here in a modern way, without too much fuss.
The shirt featured:
- a bright red body
- large white raglan sleeves
- the iconic O2 sponsor centrally on the chest
- a minimalist white Nike swoosh
- white piping along the sides and waist
- a simple round neck with subtle finishing
Also noteworthy: this was one of the first Arsenal shirts with the renewed club logo introduced in 2002. This shirt therefore marks not only a sporting but also a visual new era for the club.
More than just a beautiful shirt
What makes this shirt special is mainly what happened afterwards.
Since Arsenal became champions in 2004, the club has not managed to win the Premier League again. There were FA Cups, a Champions League final, strong periods and teams that came close, but no league title.
As a result, this shirt has become more than just the shirt of The Invincibles. It also reflects how long it has been since the league title was last won. The shirt designs have changed enormously in the past 22 years. In that period, Arsenal has changed from Nike to Puma and to Adidas as shirt manufacturer.
Last Champions League Final shirt of Arsenal (2005/06)
Still one of Arsenal's best shirts
Apart from the season itself, it's simply a strong shirt. The design is also strong. The proportions are right, the sponsor fits perfectly into the design, and the updated club logo gives it a modern look without losing its classic Arsenal feel.
It's not surprising then that this shirt is still one of the most sought-after Arsenal shirts.
Especially original versions with Henry or Bergkamp on the back remain popular.
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