The Invincibles

Lore & Background

The nickname was first coined in 1883, long before the inaugural Football League competition, used by the press to sneer at Preston's professional status. Preston earned the nickname after completing the 1888–89 season undefeated in league and cup competition (27 games), becoming the first team to achieve the Double. Arsenal earned the nickname after going undefeated in the league (38 games) in the 2003–04 season, a run that stretched to a record 49 games.

Reader's Guide

Preston North End's 1888–89 league record was 18 wins, 4 draws, and 0 losses out of 22 games; in the FA Cup they won all 5 matches without conceding a goal. Arsenal's 2003–04 league record was 26 wins, 12 draws, and no defeats. Of the eight teams to have completed the Double in England, Preston remain the only one to have done so unbeaten.

Did You Know?

• Preston North End's squad was primarily composed of Scottish players, part of a wave known as the Scotch Professors.
• Arsenal's unbeaten league run came close to ending in the sixth match of the 2003–04 season against Manchester United, when Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a penalty in injury time.
• A special gold version of the Premier League trophy was commissioned to commemorate Arsenal's unbeaten season; it was presented to Arsène Wenger as a parting gift after his last home game as manager on 6 May 2018.