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Where are the Arsenal 2003/04 Invincibles now?

Arsenal players celebrate their unbeaten title triumph in 2003/04

Gael Clichy has become a free agent after leaving Manchester City while Kolo Toure has completed another unbeaten season at Celtic, but where are the rest of Arsenal's Invincibles?

It is 13 years since the Gunners went undefeated through an entire Premier League season on their way to lifting the title.

As Clichy and Toure hit the headlines, we take a look at what became of their 2003/04 heroes...

Jens Lehmann

After leaving Arsenal in 2008 for Stuttgart, Lehmann returned to north London on a short-term basis in 2011. He played one game, a 3-1 win at Blackpool, in what would be the final competitive appearance of his career.

Lehmann can now be found working as a television pundit in Germany.

The summer before that memorable season was low-key, with Jens Lehmann, a £1.5m signing from Borussia Dortmund, the only major buy to replace David Seaman.
Image: Jens Lehmann works as a TV pundit

Ashley Cole

Cole controversially left Arsenal for London rivals Chelsea in 2006 but went on to win another league title as well as four FA Cups, a League Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League.

He moved to Italian side Roma when he reached the end of his Chelsea contract in 2014, and he can now be found playing for LA Galaxy in the MLS.

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Ashley Cole
Image: Ashley Cole is now at LA Galaxy

Sol Campbell

Having departed Arsenal in 2006 for Portsmouth, where he won the 2008 FA Cup, Campbell made a solitary appearance for lowly Notts County before returning to Arsenal in January 2010.

He played 14 more games for Arsene Wenger's team prior to joining Newcastle United in 2010/11 for what would be the last campaign of his playing career.

Since hanging up his boots he has dabbled in politics, media punditry and also worked as a coach for the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

Sol Campbell
Image: Sol Campbell has turned his hand to politics after retiring

Kolo Toure

Toure had spells at Manchester City and Liverpool after leaving Arsenal in 2009, and this season at Celtic he has become the first player in British football history to go a season undefeated with two different clubs.

The Ivorian is expected to stay at Celtic next season and could reportedly join Brendan Rodgers' coaching staff.

Kolo Toure forged a formidable partnership with Sol Campbell
Image: Kolo Toure forged a formidable partnership with Sol Campbell

Lauren

Lauren signed for Portsmouth in 2006, like Campbell, and also went on to win the FA Cup with the south-coast club.

He ended his career with Spanish club Cordoba and now makes appearances as a television pundit on Sky Sports' Spanish football coverage.

Lauren of Arsenal celebrates scoring from a penalty to take Arsenal 2-1 up during the FA Barclaycard Premiership game between Arsenal and Tottenham
Image: Lauren makes occasional appearances on Sky Sports

Robert Pires

Pires left Arsenal in 2006 for Villarreal and went on to face his old side in the Champions League in 2009.

Pires returned to England with Aston Villa for the 2010/11 season and became a star attraction of the inaugural Indian Super League as a marquee player with FC Goa. He was released by the club in March 2015 and on February 25, 2016, he announced his retirement.

The Frenchman is set to feature for France at this summer's Star Sixes tournament at the O2.

Robert Pires played for Arsenal for six seasons
Image: Robert Pires spent six seasons at Arsenal

Patrick Vieira

The captain of the Invincibles left Arsenal in 2005 for Juventus, where he won Serie A - although the title was later revoked due to the Italian match-fixing scandal.

During his season at Juventus, Vieira played and lost against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals. He moved to Inter Milan after Juventus were relegated as punishment for the match-fixing scandal before ending his career with Manchester City in 2011.

After being the head of City's Elite Development Squad, Vieira is now the head coach of Major League Soccer side New York City FC, where he's managing Andrea Pirlo and David Villa.

Patrick Vieira played a crucial role for Arsenal during 'The Invincibles' season
Image: Patrick Vieira played a crucial role for Arsenal during 'the Invincibles' season

Gilberto Silva

Perhaps an unsung hero of the Invincibles, Silva left Arsenal in 2008 after winning the Premier League and two FA Cups during his six years at the club. The 2002 World Cup winner went on to make more than 70 appearances for Panathinaikos before returning to his native Brazil with Gremio in 2011.

Gilberto, who was training back at Arsenal in January 2014, was most recently at his boyhood club, Atletico Mineiro, who he helped win the prestigious 2013 Copa Libertadores.

In December 2015, after two years without a club, Silva officially announced his retirement and is looking to pursue a career as an international consultant for players and clubs.

Like Pires, Gilberto will appear at Star Sixes this summer.

Gilberto Silva of Arsenal
Image: Gilberto Silva is still involved in football

Freddie Ljungberg

After departing Arsenal for a season at West Ham United in 2007, Ljungberg went off the radar and would go on to spells at Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire before returning to Europe with a short stint at Celtic in 2011.

Japanese club Shimizu S-Pulse would be the Swede's next port of call but, after taking up a contract with Mumbai City in the Indian Super League, a back problem forced Ljungberg to cancel his deal and return to London.

In January 2016 Ljungberg was back at Arsenal coaching their under 15s academy side as part of his training for his UEFA coaching badges. He is now assistant manager to Andries Jonker at German club Wolfsburg.

Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg
Image: Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg is now assistant manager at Wolfsburg

Thierry Henry

Arsenal's all-time record goalscorer left the club in 2007 when he signed for Barcelona and went on to win the treble with the Spanish giants in 2009. A move to the MLS with New York Red Bulls followed in 2010 before a nostalgic loan return to Arsenal in 2012.

Since finishing his career at New York Red Bulls at the end of the 2014 season, Henry has been working as a pundit for Sky Sports.

Thierry Henry
Image: Thierry Henry works as a pundit for Sky Sports

Dennis Bergkamp

Like Henry, Bergkamp has been honoured for his contributions to Arsenal with a statue outside Emirates Stadium. The Dutchman's final involvement for the club was their Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in 2006, when he remained an unused substitute - but that should not overshadow more than a decade's wonderful service.

Bergkamp is now at boyhood club Ajax and making a successful job of the role of assistant manager. He has been mooted as a potential successor to Wenger at Arsenal.

Dennis Bergkamp
Image: Dennis Bergkamp is the assistant manager of hometown club Ajax

Best of the rest

Edu

Edu made 17 league appearances as a substitute in 2003/04, more than any other Arsenal player, before leaving in 2005. Now a member of the hierarchy at his former club Corinthians.

Ray Parlour

Made 25 league appearances, including substitutions, in 2003/04, his final season at Arsenal. Now a media pundit making regular appearances on Sky Sports.

Sylvain Wiltord

Scored three goals in the 2003/04 league but made only a total of eight starts in his final season at Arsenal before seeing out his career with a number of different French clubs.

Jose Antonio Reyes

Netted two goals in 13 league appearances in 2003/04 having joined the club in January. He returned to Spain permanently in 2007, where he now plays for Espanyol.

Pascal Cygan

Ten starts in the 2003/04 season for a centre-back who developed a cult following. Retired in 2011 at the age of 37.

Gael Clichy

Clichy spent six years at Manchester City between 2011 and 2017, making close to 200 appearances. He is now on the lookout for a fresh opportunity having reached the end of his contract

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