Proof Preston’s Invincibles were better than Arsenal’s Invincibles (and had much better moustaches)

Arsenal fans were in absolute uproar when we suggested Man City's current, hugely expensive squad have better individual players (not necessarily a better team) than Arsene Wenger's 2004 'Invincibles'. 'But they've lost a league game!' came the cry from Gooners, 'how can they be better?' No matter that City currently have more points than Arsenal did at the same stage of their unbeaten season, as far as Gooners are concerned, it's having a zero in the losses column that counts.

On that basis, there is only one other team in top flight English football history that can be compared to the 2003/04 Arsenal team - the original Invincibles, the team that nickname was first assigned to after going an entire league season unbeaten, Preston North End's 1888/89 team.

But which team of Invincibles is the greatest ever? There's only one way to find out… talkSPORT takes a look at the facts!

LEAGUE GAMES PLAYED WITHOUT DEFEAT

Arsenal 2003/04: 38

Preston North End 1888/89: 22

Winner: 1-0 to the Arsenal Invincibles

PERCENTAGE OF LEAGUE GAMES WON

(We are using a percentage because Preston were only able to play 22 games, thus reducing the number of matches they were able to win that season)

Arsenal 2003/04: 68.42 per cent (26 wins from 38 matches)

Preston North End 1888/89: 81.81 per cent (18 wins from 22 matches)

Winner: Preston's Invincibles make it 1-1

GOALS SCORED AVERAGE PER GAME

(We are using average because of Preston's fewer games)

Arsenal 2003/04: 1.92 (73 goals in 38 games)

Preston North End 1888/89: 3.36 (74 goals in 22 games)

Winner: Preston's Invincibles take a 2-1 lead

GOALS CONCEDED AVERAGE PER GAME

Arsenal 2003/04: 0.684 (26 goals in 38 games)

Preston North End 1888/89: 0.681 (15 goals in 22 games)

Winner: So close, but the Preston Invincibles take a 3-1 lead

OTHER TROPHIES WON THAT SEASON

Arsenal 2003/04: None (lost in the Champions League quarter finals, FA Cup semi finals and League Cup semi finals)

Preston North End 1888/89: Won the FA Cup (the only other competition they were able to enter) without conceding a single goal in every round. Technically this was the only trophy Preston won that season, as no silverware was awarded for winning the league then. They didn't even play Queen's 'We Are The Champions' over the Tannoy.

Winner: While Arsenal were less than invincible in the other competitions they entered, losing six games in total, Preston were truly invincible, remaining unbeaten in all competitions. A 4-1 lead for Preston North End

MOUSTACHES

Arsenal 2003/04: With David Seaman having left Arsenal at the end of the previous season, the Gunners could muster just a single moustache, courtesy of Kanu.

Preston North End 1888/89: By contrast, 10 of Preston's regular starting XI boasted magnificent bushy 'taches.

Winner: Not even a close shave, as Preston's Invincibles go 5-1 up

FINAL RESULT

THE GREATEST EVER INVINCIBLES ARE… PRESTON NORTH END'S 1888/89 TEAM

Yes, Preston are definitely the greatest ever Invincibles. talkSPORT presenter Andy Jacobs, who was a young man waiting for the invention of radio when Preston won the league undefeated in 1888/89, has this to say: "If the two teams were to come face-to-face, Arsenal's nominal 4-4-2 formation would be ill-equipped to deal with the 2-3-5 pyramid deployed by Preston, not to mention the latter's adoption of an innovative 'passing game', rather than the dribbling tactics favoured by most 1880s teams.

"With their five forwards swamping the Gunners' defence, free-scoring forward John Goodall would legally barge Jens Lehmann over the line to score a goal and whenever Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp received the ball, full-backs Bob Holmes and Bob Howarth would comfortably deal with the threat by using a well-timed shoulder charge (in between puffing on Victorian-era pipes). If Martin Keown attempted to intimidate a Preston player in the manner in which he confronted Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford during the 2003/04 season, forward Fred Dewhurst would simply thump him, safe in the knowledge that were was no referee to send him off in 1888/89 (contentious decisions were debated by two umpires upon appeal by either side's captain). Easy!"

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