Highbury hails untouchables

Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira lifted the Premiership trophy to tumultuous applause at Highbury after the Gunners completed an historic unbeaten league season.

The presentation came just minutes after Arsenal had made made sure of becoming only the second team to go through an English top-flight league campaign undefeated.

Emulating the achievement of Preston North End in 1888-89, Arsenal’s official scoreboard proudly proclaimed ’The Untouchables of 2003-04’.

Following chants from the exultant crowd of “We are unbeatable“, Arsenal’s players followed Vieira onto a makeshift stage on the Highbury pitch to lift the trophy, one by one, in shirt number order.

The best was nevertheless saved for last as Thierry Henry, overwhelmingly voted as the player of the season, walked up ahead of boss Arsene Wenger.

Wenger, who is to be awarded the freedom of the London Borough of Islington for his three title triumphs, had insisted the players would achieve sporting “immortality” with their record run.

And with just 24 points dropped, their place in the record books is well deserved as they completed a second-half comeback to defeat Leicester 2-1, even coping with the shock of falling behind to the relegated side after just 26 minutes.

Paul Dickov’s header was cancelled out by Henry’s 47th-minute penalty and captain Vieira secured victory with 22 minutes left following a sublime pass by Dennis Bergkamp.