It was the moment when all the press turned out in force in order to knock Arsenal and their “pretentiousness” of thinking they could win the league without losing a game. And oh how they enjoyed – indeed how they revelled in – Arsenal’s defeat in the FA Cup semi final on 3 April 2004, a 0-1 defeat to Man U.
In the Champions League Arsenal had drawn away 1-1 with Chelsea on 24 March 2004, and looked set fair to progress, but on 6 April 2004 a 1-2 home defeat had knocked them out of the quarter finals. There was more celebrating in the media.
Yes the computer keys were sharpened and the journalistic world got ready to laugh at Arsenal. And indeed when Sami Hyypia’s headed in the opener on the fifth minute, they were ready to proclaim Arsenal’s total collapse.
So thus we have the timescale of the collapse of the unbeaten season.
3 April 2004, a 0-1 defeat to Manchester Uunited in the FA Cup.
6 April 2004, 1-2 defeat in the Champions League to Chelsea.
9 April 2004, 0-1 down at home to Liverpool. But then curiously, things changed. And do you know, rather amazingly, no one in the media apologised for all their false predictions following that defeat on this day in 2004 to Manchester United in the FA Cup!