The recent unbeaten feat achieved by Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga has been compared with that of Arsenal in the 2003/04 Premier League season.
Xabi Alonso’s side went the entirety of the 2023/24 season without losing any league game, etching their names into the history books, as they became the first German side to do so in the top flight.
Bayer Leverkusen have been astonishing this campaign, with their brilliance in the league seeing them end the term as Bundesliga champions.
They also have the DFB-POKAL to battle for, with the league champions facing Kaiserslautern on May 25, 2024.
Before the game against the 2nd-tier German side, Bayer Leverkusen clash against Atalanta in the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final on May 22, 2024.
Objections
The manner at which they have gone unbeaten has caught the eyes of many, with some expressing that theirs has been better than that of Arsenal.
Individuals on the other side of the divide claim that the Gunners’ unbeaten run remains head and shoulders above that of Bayer Leverkusen due to several factors.
They point towards the differing difficulty levels of both leagues, alongside the overwhelming numbers of games and competitions in English football.
Others feel that the amount of big clubs in the Premier League is why Arsenal’s unbeaten record is better.
However, those who counter such assertions, attribute to factors such as great footballing display, and the aura of confidence oozing around Leverkusen as reasons why Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten is above that of the North London side.
The Unbeaten Record Of Arsenal Vs Unbeaten Record Of Bayer Leverkusen
Anyway, let’s fill you in on what the stats is saying and the likely conclusion(s) that can be drawn from it.
Arsenal played 38 games in the 2003/04 campaign, while Bayer Leverkusen played 34 in the 2023/24 season.
The Gunners, who were then tutored by French legendary tactician Arsene Wenger, won 26 of those matches, while Xabi Alonso’s side won 28, two better than that of Arsenal.
In terms of draws, Arsenal shared the spoils 12 times in the season under review, while the Leverkusen-based side drew half of Mikel Arteta’s side tally (6).
Bayer Leverkusen also netted a superior amount of goals (89), compared to the Gunners (73).
Interestingly, for goals conceded, Xabi Alonso’s side also conceded fewer goals (24), compared to Arsenal’s (26) for the 2003/03 league campaign.
The Gunners had an average win percentage for that season, 68.4% compared to Bayer Leverkusen, whose staggering win percentage stands at €82.4 %.
Teams that go unbeaten in a season are often referred to as “The Invincibles”, with fans regularly stunned by the mental strength of these clubs.
Conclusions
Based on the data provided earlier, it is safe to say that Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run statistically trumps that of Arsenal.
However, several factors as earlier indicated could be the basis for the disparity, as both teams delineated brilliance all through the course of their respective campaigns, and as such, they should continually be revered for their historical achievement.
The onus definitely lies with the fans to choose the side they feel had the better unbeaten run, with fan sentiments obviously going to form the opinions of some individuals.
To reiterate, statistically, Bayer Leverkusen have a better unbeaten run compared to Arsenal, although the achievement of both teams remains the borderline focus, and that is the fact that both clubs went UNBEATEN.
