English Premier League 2002-2003 Season Review

Man Utd battle past Arsenal to win their eighth Premier League title

As the Premier League reached 10 years of compelling competition, Manager of the Decade Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his own accolade in fitting style as Manchester United overcame an eight-point deficit from defending champions Arsenal to wrest back the title and hold aloft the Premier League trophy for the eighth time.
Even though they paid a British record fee for England defender Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United, who replaced manager David O'Leary with Terry Venables in the summer, the Red Devils struggled to keep up with Arsene Wenger's Arsenal side in the early stages.
Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur also started strongly, with new recruit Robbie Keane leading the line as they topped the Premier League table after four matches, but the Gunners took control and won seven of their first nine matches.

The season's opening weeks also provided a couple of memorable local derbies. In September, goalkeeper Peter Enckelman let a throw-in slip under his foot and into the net as newly-promoted Birmingham City secured a 3-0 success against Aston Villa, while Paolo Di Canio scored a stunning volley in West Ham United's 3-2 win at Chelsea.

Premier League leaders Arsenal were finally unstuck by a memorable debut goal from 16-year-old Everton striker Wayne Rooney, who crashed a curling, long-range strike off the underside of David Seaman's crossbar to secure a 2-1 win in the dying moments of their encounter at Goodison Park in October.

A defeat by Blackburn Rovers, whose attack was spearheaded by Manchester United's 1999 UEFA Champions League winning strike-force of Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole, followed but the Gunners quickly topped the pile again after the prolific Thierry Henry scored a brilliant solo effort in a 3-0 win against Spurs in November.

Видео English Premier League 2002-2003 Season Review канала J2foot