Since rolling through the Premier League unbeaten to win the 2003-04 title, Arsenal has been shut out in its quest for a trophy.
The Carling Cup final Sunday against Birmingham (11a.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel) may not qualify as a major piece of silverware, yet Coach Arsene Wenger‘s team is very much in the hunt for the league title and pulled off a 2-1 defeatof Barcelona Tuesday in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League encounter.
How this team compares to the unbeaten 2003-04 “Invincibles” — a strange nickname to foist on a squadthat in other competitions fell at the semifinal (FA Cup, Carling Cup) and quarterfinal (Champions League) stages — and the double-winning teams of 1998 and 2002 is yet to be determined — butthe debate is underway.