Arsenal Invincibles were not going to celebrate the title at Tottenham, but the players angered Thierry Henry to force a change of heart

By premiernews On May 13, 2024

“We won the league, “On S**** Hart Lane!”

It has been 20 years since Arsenal's Invincibles won the Premier League in the sweetest way by being crowned champions at the home of their north London rivals, Tottenham.

Is there anything better than winning the league at your local rival's home?Credit: Getty

Now, the Gunners are on the verge of becoming champions again, but they will need the help of their bitter enemies to achieve it.

If Spurs can somehow beat or at least draw with City, then the title will be in Arsenal's hands when they face Everton on the final day of the season.

In 2004, the Invincibles only needed a point to be crowned champions, and were facing a Spurs team that finished 14th that season, so becoming champions at White Hart Lane was a real possibility.

Striker Thierry Henry said He and his teammates initially agreed not to celebrate on the ground if they sealed the title for fear it could lead to chaotic scenes in the crowd.

However, when Robbie Keane's injury-time penalty allowed Spurs to come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, the visitors changed their minds.

As time expired, Henry ran into the pocket of the jubilant Arsenal fans at White Hart Lane to celebrate his win, and the rest of the team quickly followed suit.

“They asked us: 'Please, if you win the league, don't celebrate there.' And to be fair, everyone was like, 'Okay, we get it, that's going to create chaos.'

“I remember (Tottenham defender) Mauricio Taricco was jumping and got a cramp. He was jumping and celebrating a tie: that's standard of him.

Goals from Patrick Vieira (left) and Robert Pires (second from left) put Arsenal up 2-0.Credit: AFP

But Spurs came back to claim a 2-2 draw and the celebrations did not sit well with Henry and the Arsenal team.Credit: AFP

Henry and Arsenal broke their word but have no regrets at allCredit: Getty

“I looked at him and said, 'Are you kidding me?' He was going 'yeaahhh' jumping in front of me.

“I said to him: 'Do you realize that we needed a point to be champions in your home?' She was talking and I told her to keep an eye on me after the game.

“That's the game. If you act strong, be strong in the end. I remember everyone saying we weren't going to celebrate and I was like, 'What?! “I'll celebrate and we'll see how much it's going to hurt.”

“I had to celebrate, they were celebrating a tie and they came in front of me, jumping like they had won something.

Havertz and his teammates will be Tottenham fans and hope that their rivals will do them a favorCredit: Getty

“So I said, 'Okay, we weren't supposed to celebrate, but now I'm going to celebrate with my fans.'”

Now Tottenham are in a position to influence the title race. Arsenal fans are now Spurs fans for one night only and even the players are.

“On Tuesday I will be the biggest Tottenham fan of all time. We all will be.” Kai Havertz said after Arsenal beat Man United 1-0 in an Old Trafford in ruins.

Club legend Paul Merson even said he would be willing to get a Tottenham tattoo if it meant that Arsenal were prepared to win the league.

Their victory against United was the 27th of the 2023/24 season and is already more than the Invincibles, who remained undefeated during the 2003/04 campaign.

The last time the Arsenal faithful sang a collective 'Come on You Spurs' was in 1999, when they expected their rivals to defeat Man United on the final matchday, which ultimately did not happen.

This time, however, against the other Manchester team, they will expect a different result.

The season is likely to go down to the final day.

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