The longest unbeaten run in Premier League history belongs to Arsenal: 49 league matches without defeat, from 7 May 2003 until a 2-0 away loss to Manchester United on 24 October 2004.
The record, and what counts toward it
This record covers Premier League matches only, not other competitions. The streak ran across 3 seasons, linking the end of one campaign, an entire unbeaten title season, and the opening stretch of the next one.
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Record holder | Arsenal |
| Longest unbeaten run | 49 league matches |
| Run began | 7 May 2003, 6-1 home win vs Southampton |
| Last unbeaten match | 16 October 2004, 3-1 home win vs Aston Villa |
| Run ended | 24 October 2004, 2-0 away defeat vs Manchester United |
How the 49 matches were built
The full run combined strong winning form with enough draws to keep the sequence alive. Arsenal did not just avoid defeat for one exceptional year; they carried that standard across the end of one season, all of the next, and the start of another.
| Section of run | Matches | Record |
|---|---|---|
| End of 2002/03 | 2 | Part of the 49-match run |
| All of 2003/04 | 38 | Entire league season unbeaten |
| Start of 2004/05 | 9 | Part of the 49-match run |
| Total | 49 | 36 wins, 13 draws |
The middle section is the one most people remember. Arsenal went through the whole 2003/04 Premier League season without losing, and that side became known as The Invincibles.
Why the 2003/04 season stands apart
Arsenal did more than extend an unbeaten streak in 2003/04. They won the league title without a defeat, and according to Premier League records they remain the only club to complete an entire Premier League season unbeaten.
| 2003/04 Arsenal league record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Wins | 26 |
| Draws | 12 |
| Defeats | 0 |
| Points | 90 |
| Goals conceded | 26 |
| Gap to second-placed Chelsea | 11 points |
| Chelsea points | 79 |
That is why the record carries extra weight. It is not only the longest unbeaten run in the competition, but also the run that contains the only full unbeaten Premier League title season.
FAQ
When did Arsenal's unbeaten run end?
It ended on 24 October 2004. Arsenal lost 2-0 away to Manchester United, which brought the 49-match league run to a close.
How many wins were in Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run?
Arsenal won 36 of those 49 league matches. The other 13 were draws, which shows that an unbeaten run is built through both victories and damage limitation.
Has any team won the Premier League unbeaten?
Yes. Arsenal did it in 2003/04, and the Premier League lists them as the only club to complete a full Premier League season without a defeat.
How many points did Arsenal get in the Invincibles season?
Arsenal finished the 2003/04 league season with 90 points. They ended 11 points clear of second-placed Chelsea on 79.
One detail often missed is the difference between the last unbeaten match and the match that ended the run: Arsenal's streak was still alive after the 3-1 home win over Aston Villa on 16 October 2004, and only stopped in the next league game.