March–May
| "I've always plumped for Arsenal, until now. It seemed to me earlier in the season they could score goals whenever they wanted. But they've seen all these points being lost and, without sitting on the fence, I really don't have a clue now. It's all up for grabs." |
| —Manager Graham Taylor, 5 April 2003 |
On 2 March 2003, Arsenal opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the table, winning 2–0 against Charlton Athletic. The result was enough for Irish bookmaker Paddy Power to pay out on punters backing Arsenal retaining the lead, despite Manchester United having a game in hand. The gap was cut to two points after Arsenal suffered their first defeat in 2003, against Blackburn Rovers. By the time Arsenal played Everton on 23 March 2003, they were displaced at the top of the table by Manchester United. A goal by Vieira moved the team two points clear once more.
An own goal scored by Touré meant Fredrik Ljungberg's opener against Aston Villa was cancelled out and the match ended in a draw, albeit helping Arsenal back to first position on goal difference. Leading up to the potential championship decider against Manchester United on 16 April 2003, Wenger was adamant his team were mentally ready to retain the title: "We want to be a team who makes history. That's what's really driving us on. We are not worrying about United too much. We are just concentrating on expressing our togetherness, our mental strength and our qualities. We have enough players who can win this game." Having conceded a first half goal scored by Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arsenal overturned Manchester United's lead before Ryan Giggs equalised for the away team. The match ended 2–2; Campbell was sent off for Arsenal, having elbowed Ole Gunnar Solskjær and was banned the rest of the season, whereas Vieira limped off with an injury. Although the result helped Manchester United move back top, they had played one game more than Arsenal. Arsenal won their next match at Middlesbrough, but squandered a two-goal lead away to Bolton Wanderers in the last ten minutes. The result, "a big blow" for Arsenal's title hopes, meant the championship was now in Manchester United's favour.
With Manchester United beating Charlton Athletic 4–1 on 3 May 2003, Arsenal, a day later, needed a win against Leeds United to restore any hope of finishing top of the league. In a five-goal match, an 88th minute goal by Mark Viduka ensured Leeds United's survival in the top division, thus ensuring Manchester United regained the league championship. Wenger revoked suggestion that the league campaign was a "failure", arguing his team were consistent:
Of course we want to win the league but I think the most difficult thing for the club is to be consistent and we have been remarkably consistent. We are in the cup final; we lose the league to a team who spends 50% more money every year – last year they bought a player for £30m pounds when they lost the championship. They will do the same next year and we done miracles just to fight with them.Arsenal won their final two matches of the league season, against Southampton – where Pirès and Jermaine Pennant both scored a hat-trick – and Sunderland, ending the season with 78 points.
| 1 18 August 2002 (2002-08-18) | Arsenal | 2–0 | Birmingham City | London | ||
| 16:05 BST | Henry 9' Wiltord 24' |
Report | Purse 24' Cissé 69', 73' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,018 Referee: Mike Riley |
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| 2 24 August 2002 (2002-08-24) | West Ham United | 2–2 | Arsenal | London | ||
| 15:00 BST | J. Cole 44' Kanouté 53' Řepka 63' Moncur 87' |
Report | Bergkamp 18' Edu 42' A. Cole 53' Henry 65' Keown 68' Vieira 75' Wiltord 88' |
Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 35,048 Referee: Neale Barry |
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| 3 27 August 2002 (2002-08-27) | Arsenal | 5–2 | West Bromwich Albion | London | ||
| 20:00 BST | Cole 3' Lauren 21' Edu 23' Wiltord 24', 77' Keown 67' Campbell 72' Aliadière 90' |
Report | McInnes 19' Clement 39' Dobie 52' Roberts 87' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 37,920 Referee: Paul Durkin |
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| 4 1 September 2002 (2002-09-01) | Chelsea | 1–1 | Arsenal | London | ||
| 16:05 BST | Lampard 7' Le Saux 12' Zola 34' de Lucas 42' Grønkjær 54' Melchiot 82' |
Report | Vieira 33', 50' Wiltord 55' Touré 60' |
Stadium: Stamford Bridge Attendance: 40,037 Referee: Andy D'Urso |
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| 5 10 September 2002 (2002-09-10) | Arsenal | 2–1 | Manchester City | London | ||
| 20:00 BST | Wiltord 26' Vieira 37' Henry 42' |
Report | Anelka 29' Distin 35' Benarbia 22', 84' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 37,878 Referee: Clive Wilkes |
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| 6 14 September 2002 (2002-09-14) | Charlton Athletic | 0–3 | Arsenal | London | ||
| 15:00 BST | Report | Keown 14' A. Cole 26' Henry 44' Wiltord 67' Luzhny 80' Edu 88' |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 26,080 Referee: Steve Dunn |
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| 7 21 September 2002 (2002-09-21) | Arsenal | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | London | ||
| 15:00 BST | Keown 19' Henry 26' Kanu 90+3' |
Report | Farrelly 47' Holdsworth 55' Campo 8', 79' Jääskeläinen 82' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 37,974 Referee: David Pugh |
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| 8 28 September 2002 (2002-09-28) | Leeds United | 1–4 | Arsenal | Leeds | ||
| 12:00 BST | Smith 6' Dacourt 17' Bakke 75' Bowyer 76' Kewell 85' |
Report | Kanu 9', 86' Touré 20' Vieira 40' Henry 46' Campbell 48' |
Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 40,199 Referee: Alan Wiley |
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| 9 6 October 2002 (2002-10-06) | Arsenal | 3–1 | Sunderland | London | ||
| 14:00 BST | Kanu 3', 9' Vieira 45+2' |
Report | Craddock 83' | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 37,902 Referee: David Elleray |
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| 10 19 October 2002 (2002-10-19) | Everton | 2–1 | Arsenal | Liverpool | ||
| 15:00 BST | Radzinski 22' Weir 39' Pembridge 45+1' Linderoth 89' Rooney 90' |
Report | Ljungberg 8' Edu 90+4' |
Stadium: Goodison Park Attendance: 39,038 Referee: Uriah Rennie |
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| 11 26 October 2002 (2002-10-26) | Arsenal | 1–2 | Blackburn Rovers | London | ||
| 15:00 BST | Edu 45' Henry 83' |
Report | Edu 6' (o.g.) Østenstad 37' Johansson 45' Yorke 51' Flitcroft 70', 79' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,064 Referee: Graham Barber |
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| 12 3 November 2002 (2002-11-03) | Fulham | 0–1 | Arsenal | London | ||
| 14:00 GMT | Djetou 49' | Report | Marlet 31' (o.g.) Cygan 35' Edu 67' |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 18,800 Referee: Jeff Winter |
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| 13 9 November 2002 (2002-11-09) | Arsenal | 1–0 | Newcastle United | London | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Wiltord 25' | Report | Griffin 57' Hugo Viana 68' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,121 Referee: Mike Dean |
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| 14 16 November 2002 (2002-11-16) | Arsenal | 3–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | London | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Henry 13' Ljungberg 55' Wiltord 71' |
Report | Davies 23', 27' Poyet 49' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,152 Referee: Mike Riley |
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| 15 23 November 2002 (2002-11-23) | Southampton | 3–2 | Arsenal | Southampton | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Beattie 45+3', 58' (pen.) Delgado 67' Marsden 70' |
Report | Bergkamp 36' Campbell 57' A. Cole 60' Pirès 79' Vieira 90+3' |
Stadium: St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,797 Referee: Paul Durkin |
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| 16 30 November 2002 (2002-11-30) | Arsenal | 3–1 | Aston Villa | London | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Pirès 17' Henry 49', 82' (pen.) Luzhny 54' Henry 87' |
Report | Hitzlsperger 64', 69' Taylor 84' Dublin 90+2' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,090 Referee: Graham Barber |
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| 17 7 December 2002 | Manchester United | 2–0 | Arsenal | Manchester | ||
| 12:15 GMT | Verón 22' Scholes 73' |
Report | Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 67,650 Referee: Dermot Gallagher |
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| 18 15 December 2002 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Arsenal | London | ||
| 14:00 GMT | Ziege 11' | Report | Pirès 45+1' (pen.) | Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 36,076 Referee: Neale Barry |
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| 19 22 December 2002 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Middlesbrough | London | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Campbell 45+1' Pirès 90+1' |
Report | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,003 Referee: Steve Dunn |
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| 20 26 December 2002 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–2 | Arsenal | West Bromwich | ||
| 14:00 GMT | Dichio 3' | Report | Jeffers 48' Henry 85' |
Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 27,025 Referee: Graham Poll |
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| 21 29 December 2002 | Arsenal | 1–1 | Liverpool | London | ||
| 16:05 GMT | Henry 79' (pen.) | Report | Murphy 70' (pen.) | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,074 Referee: Jeff Winter |
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| 22 1 January 2003 | Arsenal | 3–2 | Chelsea | London | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Desailly 9' (o.g.) van Bronckhorst 81' Henry 82' |
Report | Stanić 85' Petit 86' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,096 Referee: Uriah Rennie |
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| 23 12 January 2003 | Birmingham City | 0–4 | Arsenal | Birmingham | ||
| 16:05 GMT | Report | Henry 6', 70' Pirès 29' Lauren 67' |
Stadium: St. Andrews Attendance: 29,505 Referee: Steve Bennett |
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| 24 19 January 2003 | Arsenal | 3–1 | West Ham United | London | ||
| 14:00 c | Henry 14' (pen.) | Report | Defoe 40' | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,053 Referee: Mike Dean |
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| 25 29 January 2003 | Liverpool | 2–2 | Arsenal | Liverpool | ||
| 20:00 GMT | Riise 52' Heskey 90+1' |
Report | Pirès 9' Bergkamp 63' |
Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 43,668 Referee: Mark Halsey |
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| 26 1 February 2003 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Fulham | London | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Pirès 17', 90+1' | Report | Malbranque 29' | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,050 Referee: Eddie Wolstenholme |
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| 27 9 February 2003 | Newcastle United | 1–1 | Arsenal | Newcastle upon Tyne | ||
| 16:05 GMT | Robert 53' | Report | Henry 27' | Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 52,157 Referee: Neale Barry |
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| 28 22 February 2003 | Manchester City | 1–5 | Arsenal | Manchester | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Anelka 87' | Report | Bergkamp 4' Pirès 12' Henry 15' Campbell 19' Vieira 53' |
Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 34,960 Referee: Paul Durkin |
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| 29 2 March 2003 | Arsenal | 2–0 | Charlton Athletic | London | ||
| 12:00 GMT | Jeffers 26' Pirès 45+1' |
Report | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,015 Referee: Rob Styles |
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| 30 15 March 2003 | Blackburn Rovers | 2–0 | Arsenal | Blackburn | ||
| 15:00 GMT | Duff 22' Tugay 52' |
Report | Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 29,840 Referee: Steve Bennett |
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| 31 23 March 2003 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Everton | London | ||
| 16:05 GMT | Cygan 8' Vieira 64' |
Report | Rooney 56' | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,042 Referee: Alan Wiley |
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| 32 5 April 2003 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Arsenal | Birmingham | ||
| 15:00 BST | Touré 71' (o.g.) | Report | Ljungberg 56' | Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 42,602 Referee: Uriah Rennie |
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| 33 16 April 2003 | Arsenal | 2–2 | Manchester United | London | ||
| 20:00 BST | Henry 51', 62' | Report | van Nistelrooy 24' Giggs 63' |
Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,164 Referee: Mark Halsey |
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| 34 19 April 2003 | Middlesbrough | 0–2 | Arsenal | Middlesbrough | ||
| 15:00 BST | Report | Wiltord 48' Henry 82' |
Stadium: Riverside Stadium Attendance: 34,724 Referee: David Elleray |
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| 35 26 April 2003 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–2 | Arsenal | Bolton | ||
| 12:30 BST | Djorkaeff 74' Keown 84' (o.g.) Laville 90+2' |
Report | Wiltord 47' Pirès 56' |
Stadium: Reebok Stadium Attendance: 27,253 Referee: Andy D'Urso |
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| 36 4 May 2003 | Arsenal | 2–3 | Leeds United | London | ||
| 16:05 BST | Henry 31' Bergkamp 63' |
Report | Kewell 5' Harte 48' Viduka 88' |
Stadium: Highbury Referee: Alan Wiley |
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| 37 7 May 2003 | Arsenal | 6–1 | Southampton | London | ||
| 19:45 BST | Pirès 8', 22', 46' Pennant 15', 18', 25' |
Report | Tessem 34' | Stadium: Highbury Attendance: 38,052 Referee: Uriah Rennie |
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| 38 11 May 2003 | Sunderland | 0–4 | Arsenal | Sunderland | ||
| 15:00 BST | Report | Henry 7' Ljungberg 39', 78', 88' |
Stadium: Stadium of Light Attendance: 40,188 Referee: Paul Durkin |
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Read more about this topic: 2002–03 Arsenal F.C. Season, Premier League