Arsenal have invited the Invincibles to their final game of the 2023/24 season.
The Gunners hope the legendary players who lifted the English Premier League trophy without losing a game in 2003/04 will witness Mikel Arteta’s current side end the club’s 20-year wait to be champions.
It is understood that boss Arsene Wenger and the whole first-team squad from that unique season have been asked to attend the last-day clash with Everton at the Emirates on 19 May.
And whatever happens on the day, there will also be a separate lunch to celebrate the first and so far only team to go unbeaten for an entire top-flight season in the modern era of English football.
But the event in a fortnight’s time has the potential to be one of the biggest parties in Arsenal’s history – or a bittersweet occasion.
Wenger and a team featuring Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires wrote their names into history when they came from behind to beat Leicester 2-1 at Highbury on 15 May 2004, and so end the season with a record of P38 W26 D12 L0.
If the 2023/24 title race goes down to the last day, the presence of the club legends in the stands will only add to the sense of occasion – and perhaps to the pressure on Arteta and his team.
Sporting director Edu was part of Wenger’s squad 20 seasons ago and helping the Gunners to their first title since would bring the former midfielder full circle.
Arrangements and schedules for both the final-day event and the lunch are being finalised.
But Arsenal were determined to mark the achievement.
Only Preston North End had previously been crowned champions of England without losing a game, when they claimed the inaugural First Division title way back in 1888/89 with 18 win and four draws.
It is believed the Premier League will also mark the 20-year anniversary with content on its media channels but has no separate celebration planned.
As revealed by SunSport, Invincibles goalkeeper Jens Lehmann stole a march on Arsenal by registering “The Invincibles” as a trademark.
Lehmann, fellow players, Wenger and other staff stand to benefit from the profits of a company being set up to exploit the name and achievement commercially.
But on 15 May, potential legal issues in the future will be set aside for what Arsenal hope will be a double celebration.
