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Arsenal logo
Premier League
May 7, 2003 at 3pm UK
 
Southampton logo

6-1

Pires (9', 22', 47'), Pennant (16', 19', 26')
FT(HT: 5-1)
Tessem (35')

On this day: Arsenal's 'Invincibles' start unbeaten streak

Hat-tricks from Jermaine Pennant and Robert Pires against Southampton send Arsenal on their way to a 49-game unbeaten streak.

When Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest set a record of 42 matches without defeat back in 1978, it was a streak that many expected no English club to ever overcome.

However, from 2003 to 2004, Arsenal, under the management of Arsene Wenger, went seven encounters better before they fell one short of 50 with a defeat away at Manchester United.

Their remarkable achievement started 11 years ago today with the visit of Southampton to Highbury. These two sides were due to meet in the FA Cup final 10 days later and as a result, both managers made alterations to their respective starting lineups in a bid to avoid injuries.

It meant that among the changes, Gunners youngster Jermaine Pennant, who had joined the North Londoners from Notts County for £2m, was handed his full Premier League debut. It would prove to be a memorable outing for the winger.

Within the opening 23 minutes he had found the net on two occasions, as had French international Robert Pires as the hosts set about putting the disappointment of losing the title to Man United behind them.

Then, in the 26th minute, Pennant completed his hat-trick following a swift counter-attack. Thierry Henry was the main creator, threading a pass through for the teenager to fire a low shot out of Paul Jones's reach.

Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem momentarily stemmed the tide when he converted Wayne Bridge's cross from the left flank before the break, but normal service was resumed after the restart.

In the 47th minute, like Pennant, Pires rounded off his trio of goals with the best effort of the evening. Having seen Jones off his line, the winger chipped the visiting goalkeeper with a curling shot from 30 yards out.

The home team continued to dominate proceedings thereafter, but they were unable to add to their six-goal tally. It would turn out that Arsenal would now not be defeated in the Premier League until October 2004.

ARSENAL: Taylor; Toure, Luzhny (Tavlaridis), Stepanovs, Garry; Pennant (Hoyte), Parlour, Van Bronckhorst, Pires (Bergkamp); Kanu, Henry

SOUTHAMPTON: Jones; Telfer, Williams, M Svensson, Bridge; Fernandes (Baird), Prutton, A Svensson (Oakley), Higginbotham, Tessem; K Davies (Beattie)

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Leeds United defender Ian Harte celebrates scoring against Arsenal on May 04, 2003.
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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