The age-old debate: The Treble winning Manchester United or Arsenal’s Invincibles?
Who was better? The Treble winning Manchester United or Arsenal’s Invincibles?
With the 2017/2018 Premier League bearing witness to a dominant display from Manchester City and many pundits and bookies baking city to win a quadruple and to become the first team in the premier league era to achieve this feat, it got me thinking. Who really was the greatest team in the premier league era. Immediately two teams come to mind Arsenal’s Invincibles (2003/2004) or Manchester United’s treble winning team (1998/1999)?
Although both teams were brilliant let’s compare the two and discuss who I think was the best and why? If you disagree jump into the comments and tell me why?
Silverware:
Manchester United:
Premier League
FA Cup
Champions League
Arsenal:
Premier League
Season Statistics:
The season record is based off all games played except pre-season friendlies starting with the FA charity shield or community shield
Manchester United:
Games Played 64 Win 36 Draw 23 Loss 5
Win% 56.25
Loss% 7.81
Goals For 128 Goals Against 63
Goal per game 2
Goals conceded per game 0.98
Arsenal:
Games Played 59 Win 38 Draw 14 Loss 7
Win % 64.41
Loss % 11.86
Goals For 114 Goals Against 48
Goal per game 1.93
Goals conceded per game 0.81.
Surrounding Seasons:
Manchester United:
Before winning the Treble United won the Charity shield in 1997/98. However, after winning the treble in the 1998/99 season United followed up their season retaining the premier league and winning the Intercontinental Cup in 1999/00.
Arsenal:
Arsenal preceded their Invincibles (2003/04) run with the FA Cup and the Community shield in 2002/03 and did the same in the Invincibles follow up season in 2004/05.
The Discussion
Firstly, let’s get this out there in my opinion these two are probably the two greatest teams to play in the Premier league era and you can probably add the Chelsea side of 2004/05 into the mix as well but looking at the stats the silverware and the surrounding season’s I would have to give the edge to Manchester United.
United managed to win three trophies and lose less often than the Arsenal side while doing it in spectacular fashion scoring 128 goals. The fact of the matter is Arsenal might have won the premier league but if I was offered an unbeaten premier league season or a season where my team wins the treble, the silverware would be my choice every time. Furthermore, the United side managed to retain the premier league in the following season which in my opinion solidifies their spot as the greatest side in the Premier League era.
Closing
In my opinion the treble winning Manchester United team has to be regarded as the greatest side in Premier League history with the Chelsea 2004/05- 2005/06 and The Invincibles fighting it out for second.
If you disagree feel welcome to state your argument in the comments and let’s have a debate?
Also, do you think Pep’s City will win the quadruple? Personally I don’t think so?
Sources:
https://www.theloop.com.au/mitchos/portfolio/the-invincibles-infographic-poster/253463
http://www.manutdupdates.com/happy-birthday-boss/
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/gallery/manchester-united-treble-parade-1999-7175791
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/arsenal-invincibles-how-wengers-2003-04-gunners-went-a/1xkm3tgyvsbjj1wzrewhqz0liu
http://www.sportbible.com/football/news-legends-manchester-united-treble-winners-set-for-big-reunion-20160418