‘Delighted’ ex-Arsenal star almost ruined Invincibles season – ‘I needed to spoil social gathering’

Arsenal might not have won the Premier League for over two decades, but they have an achievement nobody else does.

The Invincibles. The Gunners were undefeated in 37 matches, and could have been forgiven for thinking their clash with Leicester City on the final day of the 2003/04 season was going to be a cake walk.

Arsenal fans expected to witness their own little bit of history, that was until Paul Dickov stepped forward. A former Arsenal man and Manchester City legend.

Dickov, who turns 51 today (November 1), put Leicester ahead with a delightful headed finish midway through the first-half, there were more than a few anxious faces among the 38,419 fans inside the famous old stadium.

Arsenal, of course, came back to win 2-1 with goals from Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, completing an Invincible season, but Dickov still cherishes the goal that almost stopped history in its tracks.

Speaking to Ladbrokes back in 2021, Dickov said: “The final game of the 2003-04 season really was a surreal atmosphere. I was playing for Leicester at the time and we’d already been relegated, so the pressure was pretty much off us.

“But, of course, we had to go to Highbury in a season where Arsenal had gone 37 games unbeaten. They were going for that Invincibles tag.

“Regardless of who I was playing against in my career, I was always going to give it my all. It didn’t matter that I used to play for Arsenal, or that they were looking to celebrate something historic.

“I always liked the idea of spoiling a party as the underdogs. It was a massive motivator for me.” Dickov added that following Leicester’s relegation, the thought of seeing Arsenal celebrating was a motivating factor ahead of the match.

He continued: “The last thing we wanted to see on that day – knowing we were relegated -was another bunch of players celebrating around us.” And what about that goal? It’s fair to say he rather enjoyed it. “I loved it when I scored the opener in that game.

“It was a rare one as well because I never really got many headers in my career, but I was delighted. I nearly fell into the North Stand when I scored though, right into the Arsenal fans.

“That wouldn’t have gone down well, because I know loads of fans were thinking ‘please don’t let it be Dickov that stops us going unbeaten’.”