The incredible history-­making season of 2003-04 started with a rallying cry, a challenge which backfired, and a disastrous trial.

Arsene Wenger’s greatest ever achievement was the Invincibles, who won the title ­unbeaten, the only club to do so in the Premier League era.

But what is forgotten is that Wenger set his sights on that feat the previous season – and it backfired spectacularly.

Arsenal were reigning ­champions and as they began the defence of their crown he ­mentioned how they aimed to ­finish ­undefeated.

They started well and ­including their winning streak from the previous term went 30 games unbeaten by mid-October – only to have hopes dashed by a by a wonder strike from a certain 16-year-old Wayne Rooney.

They finished the season runners-up to Manchester United.

Thierry Henry and co won 26 of their 38 league games, and drew all the rest (
Image:
Getty)

That made Wenger even more determined to be undefeated the following year and he had in his squad characters big enough to take on the challenge.

Before every game, the players, from Patrick Vieira to Thierry Henry, would form a huddle and Sol Campbell would shout: ­“Together!”

And together they certainly were, winning 26 and drawing 12 of their 38 league games, with a defence made up of converted midfielder Lauren at right-back, Ashley Cole at left-back and Kolo Toure and Campbell forging a formidable centre-back pairing.

It is understandable that Wenger gets annoyed when it is suggested his success was built on a back four he inherited from previous ­manager George Graham.

In fact, Wenger signed Lauren, Toure and Campbell, and brought Cole up from the youth team.

Wenger's Gunners have not won the title since that unforgettable season 13 years ago (
Image:
Getty)

Recruiting Campbell from bitter rivals Tottenham sparked huge controversy, but the story of how Toure came to be a Gunner is surely one of the best of Wenger’s reign.

The Ivorian was invited along in 2002 for what proved to be an ­unforgettable trial – for all the wrong reasons. Yet Wenger still decided to sign him.

He was a raw 20-year-old, eager to impress and determined to succeed. But he was so enthusiastic he took out Thierry Henry with a tackle, then Dennis Bergkamp, and even flew into Wenger as he stood on the ­training pitch.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour recalls: “The triallist had taken out Henry, Bergkamp and the manager! Kolo was nearly in tears, his big day ruined.

“I went into the medical room and there was Arsene with an ice pack on his ankle.

“I said, ‘I don’t think he meant it’. He told me there and then, ‘We’re signing him tomorrow. I like his desire’.

Toure, far right, just completed ANOTHER unbeaten league season with Celtic in Scotland (
Image:
PA Wire)

“He knew he could get the best out of him and he went on to being a great player for the club.”

Sure enough, Toure started in midfield, played right-back but was switched to centre-half at the start of the 03-04 season and played a key role for the Invincibles.

Lauren recalls: “It was a big, big achievement. It’s such a hard thing to do. We ­managed to do it ­because we had winning players, everyone was focused on the same thing. There were big ­characters in that dressing room.

“It wasn’t just the XI, but we had 14, 15, 16 or even 20 big ­players. Everyone wanted to win, everyone wanted to play and we all had the ­motivation and ambition to win.

“It didn’t matter who was in the team. You could see it in the players, in training, in the dressing room, you could see the desire to win.

“It’s not easy to have that spirit but it was the same throughout the squad – huge ­characters.”

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