[2][3] Having ended the previous season as FA Cup finalists and league runners-up to Manchester United, the club went one better in this campaign, by completing the domestic double – their second in four years and third overall.

In the transfer window, Arsenal sold several fringe players, notably Nelson Vivas to Internazionale and Sylvinho to Celta Vigo; goalkeeper John Lukic was released following his decision to retire.

Goalkeeper Richard Wright was signed as an earmarked understudy to David Seaman, while midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst and striker Francis Jeffers were purchased in big money moves from Rangers and Everton respectively.

[6] To fill the seemingly large void left by Emmanuel Petit in the centre of midfield, Giovanni van Bronckhorst was signed from Rangers for £8.5 million.

After a protracted transfer saga, which involved him questioning Arsenal's ambitions and being linked to a move with Manchester United, midfielder Patrick Vieira remained at the club.

[11] Campbell was unveiled at a midday news conference on 3 July 2001, which journalists "presumed had been called to announce goalkeeper Richard Wright's arrival from Ipswich.

[44] In spite of the man disadvantage, Arsenal was awarded a late penalty which was converted in by Robert Pires – it was conceded by Ugo Ehiogu for a trip on Ashley Cole, who subsequently was sent off.

[45] Although Sylvain Wiltord equalised moments after, striker Mark Viduka in the second half collected a pass from Harry Kewell and used his strength to beat Tony Adams and score for the visitors.

[52] Henry's controlled effort looked to have been the winner for Arsenal, until a pass by Tugay caused goalkeeper Wright to "race out of his goal" – the loose ball was collected by Dunn who shot into the empty net.

"[53] October ended with a draw against Sunderland, where notably former Arsenal player Stefan Schwarz equalised for the home side and Patrick Vieira missed a penalty.

[57] Arsenal then faced league champions Manchester United and in spite of conceding inside 14 minutes through a Paul Scholes’ strike, Ljungberg equalised for them "with a wonderful chipped finish, following Gary Neville's wretched error.

Goals from ex-Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson and Steve Stone gave the visitors a deserved lead before Arsenal produced an "enthralling" fight back, capped off by Henry, who scored the winner in stoppage time.

[64] The team scored the first goal of the match – a penalty, converted by Henry minutes before the interval and "uncharacteristic slackness" by Steven Gerrard allowed Pires to beat his defender and cross the ball from the left-hand side; it was met by Ljungberg, who nipped in at the far post to double Arsenal's lead.

[69] Victory away to Blackburn Rovers, where Oleh Luzhnyi was sent off in the second half and his defensive partner Campbell "provided the sort of display usually described as sterling", kept Arsenal in-touch of Manchester United.

[76] An inspired performance by Pires against Aston Villa on 17 March 2002 kept a point behind top spot; the win was followed up by a comprehensive defeat of Sunderland, where all three Arsenal goals were scored in the first half.

[80] Victory against Ipswich Town and five days later at home against West Ham United, where Ljungberg and Kanu scored meant Arsenal was two wins away from securing the title.

[85] On the final day of the season, Arsenal beat Everton by four goals to three, in a match where defender Lee Dixon and goalkeeping coach Bob Wilson received warm send-offs from the crowd.

[89] After squandering numerous chances to increase their lead, Arsenal added a late third and fourth goal from Kanu and Bergkamp before Marcus Gayle scored what was a mere consolation for Watford in stoppage time.

The timing of the game, influenced by the television schedulers, angered Wenger, who threatened to field a weakened side, to prioritise on their Champions League progress: "The BBC have put us in this position of playing at 5.35pm on Saturday night instead of a noon kick-off.

For Chelsea, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Graeme Le Saux passed late fitness tests and were named in the first team; John Terry filled the substitutes bench, having woken up with a virus.

[96] Chelsea threatened early with goal efforts from Le Saux and midfielder Frank Lampard, before Bergkamp fashioned the first real chance of the match – he headed the ball over the top, which caught goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini off his line.

[97] In the 70th minute Arsenal took the lead: Adams found Wiltord in space, who in turn passed the ball towards Parlour – he kicked "from just beyond the arc", which flew into the top right corner.

[97] Ten minutes after, Ljungberg increased the lead, running from the half-way line and shrung off a late challenge by Terry to curl the ball past Cudicini.

[103] In the opening match against Mallorca on 11 September 2001, Cole was handed a straight red card, as he was adjudged to have brought down striker Albert Luque in the penalty box.

[107][108] With nothing to play for, Wenger fielded an understrength Arsenal team against Schalke 04, who "...produced next to nothing in attack, looked poor in defence and were beaten by the time Sylvain Wiltord scored from Ray Parlour's cross.

First half goals scored by Roy Makaay and Diego Tristán inflicted defeat for Arsenal in their opening group game against Deportivo La Coruña.

[110] The team responded with a 3–1 win against Italian champions Juventus; Ljungberg's second goal of the match and Arsenal's third involved a "wonderful piece of individual skill" by Bergkamp, as he held off two markers, before twisting and turning to find the Swede.

[111] What looked to be a priceless win against Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena as Arsenal for much of the second half were down to ten men, in fact turned into a draw, as Ulf Kirsten scored in stoppage time to cancel out Pires' 56th-minute goal.