The Times: The "Invincibles" top the best English teams of the last 25 years

[DaPrince84]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6789124.ece

1: Arsenal 2001-04

The 2002 team were superb, but the “Invincibles”, who went through the season undefeated two years later, were truly exceptional. Thierry Henry and others were at the peak of their powers, but the main difference between this and subsequent Arsenal sides was in their indomitable spirit and physical strength. No European Cup, but what a team.

[And_ROOS]

but the main difference between this and subsequent Arsenal sides was in their indomitable spirit and physical strength.

Hope you are reading this, Voyeur...

[The Jitty Slitter]

well.... and the fact that we had some of the best players in the world i.e.

Pires
Henry
DB10
Vieira
Sol


Who in the current side is in the top 3 for their position in the world?

[Val1]

I would add Cole to that list, Jitty.

And of course, the answer to your question is none, though Cesc and Arshavin have that potential...

[ZIAD]

well.... and the fact that we had some of the best players in the world i.e.

Pires
Henry
DB10
Vieira
Sol


Who in the current side is in the top 3 for their position in the world?

Arshavin ?

[DougG_ATL]

well.... and the fact that we had some of the best players in the world i.e.

Pires
Henry
DB10
Vieira
Sol


Who in the current side is in the top 3 for their position in the world?

I'd say these guys were the best in the world at their positions because of the team and system they were playing on. Not one of the four that left for other teams have remained playing at the level they were when they left Arsenal.

[The Jitty Slitter]

I'd say these guys were the best in the world at their positions because of the team and system they were playing on. Not one of the four that left for other teams have remained playing at the level they were when they left Arsenal.

:confused:

Take campbell for instance. He was easily the best English centre half of his generation. With rio - they were incredible for england.

Then he lost his pace and go a bit shit as he got older.

[The Jitty Slitter]

I would add Cole to that list, Jitty.

.

arguably i guess.

[thefoamroses]

well.... and the fact that we had some of the best players in the world i.e.

Pires
Henry
DB10
Vieira
Sol


Who in the current side is in the top 3 for their position in the world?
I don't know if top three is the correct number. I think you need top ten players performing together, intermeshed in a way to optimize their abilities. And I think that was that invicibles team. Only Henry and Vieira were top 3.

Sagna, Clichy, Arshavin, and Fabregas are top ten for their positions now. That's it. Compared to the invincibles, which were all top ten, its a bit different. But this side could grow into being all top tens. Could...

[The Jitty Slitter]

I don't know if top three is the correct number. I think you need top ten players performing together, intermeshed in a way to optimize their abilities. And I think that was that invicibles team. Only Henry and Vieira were top 3.

Sagna, Clichy, Arshavin, and Fabregas are top ten for their positions now. That's it. Compared to the invincibles, which were all top ten, its a bit different. But this side could grow into being all top tens. Could...

Who was a better centre half than Sol?

For 2 years Pires was virtually unplayable.

I don't say all those guys were top 3 at once anyway - but for instance there was a period when vieira was arguably the best box to box cm around

[DaPrince84]

I'd say these guys were the best in the world at their positions because of the team and system they were playing on. Not one of the four that left for other teams have remained playing at the level they were when they left Arsenal.
probably had a lot to do with those players being in their 30s when they left, tbf

[thefoamroses]

You are right about Vieira. He was by far the best box to box mid-fielder of his generation. Only Zidane and Roy Keane were rivals, but with entirely different styles.

Pires was fantastic, but I think Pires was so good because of his interplay with Henry and Cole. The left side of the field was unplayable, within it Pires was outstanding. Top three though, I don't know. In my mind yes, but I'm an Arsenal supporter. Certainly the PFA agreed.

Sol Campbell, I don't know. He was a great player, I won't deny that. But was he merely part of a great team? He certainly provided an epic, physical presence in the back four that went unquestioned until his departure. Maybe that answers my question.

Who was a better centre half than Sol?

For 2 years Pires was virtually unplayable.

I don't say all those guys were top 3 at once anyway - but for instance there was a period when vieira was arguably the best box to box cm around

[The Jitty Slitter]

Re Sol - who was better than him?

[KirbyNYC]

Hope you are reading this, Voyeur...

well.... and the fact that we had some of the best players in the world i.e.

Pires
Henry
DB10
Vieira
Sol


Whoah...definitely negative brownie points for not having Cygan on that list. For shame!! :eek:

[thebigman]

Who was a better centre half than Sol?

For 2 years Pires was virtually unplayable.

I don't say all those guys were top 3 at once anyway - but for instance there was a period when vieira was arguably the best box to box cm around

vieira and keane were probably the 2 finest box to box players the prem has ever seen, regardless of my essien man crush

[thebigman]

Re Sol - who was better than him?

rio, in terms of english players but thats it

worldwide, i guess id need to look back but sol was a bloody massive rock for us

[DaPrince84]

Who was a better centre half than Sol?
probably just Nesta, Stam, and maybe Cannavaro too... but I havent really thought this out...

[akindele12]

I love Arsenal, but Untied's 98-03 was better, they won more, especially the ultimate prize, the CL. As much as I love that group, they underachieved, and too in many instances choked.

Just my opinion

[wanye_stirrear]

I love Arsenal, but Untied's 98-03 was better, they won more, especially the ultimate prize, the CL. As much as I love that group, they underachieved, and too in many instances choked.

Just my opinion

Your opinion is wrong. Player for player Arsenal's team was superior, and winning a cup tournament means nothing compared to winning a long league with a defeat. Porto won the Champion's League. No other team has matched what Arsenal's team has done. That's my objective assessment.

[akindele12]

That's all well and good, but United won more, and that's all I can go on. All this player for player comparison means nothing to me. I may be an Arsenal fan, but United's 98-99 season was better, and i'll even rank them behind Liverpool's 80's squad, who would've done more if it was'nt for the ban.