Arsenal have won the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, ending a 22-year drought. The last time the Gunners topped the league, the world looked vastly different.
Political Landscape
Tony Blair was serving his second term as Prime Minister, with Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and Sir Keir Starmer all yet to hold the office.
Everyday Life Costs
A pint of beer in the UK cost just £2.33, a pint of milk was 35p, and a loaf of bread was 64p.
Music and Entertainment
American singer Eamon’s ‘F*** It (I Don’t Want You Back)’ topped the UK singles chart on the day Arsenal clinched the title at White Hart Lane. Globally, Usher’s ‘Yeah!’ was the number one song of 2004, while Shrek 2 was the highest-grossing film. Hit TV sitcom Friends ended its 10-year run.
Technology and Social Media
Social media was in its infancy, with MySpace dominant. Facebook was founded just months before Arsenal’s triumph, while X, Instagram, and TikTok were yet to launch. The iPhone was three years away from its global debut.
Football and Sports
Sir Alex Ferguson was Manchester United manager; the club have since had seven permanent coaches. Arsenal have had just three permanent bosses: Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery, and Mikel Arteta. Manchester City, four years from their Abu Dhabi takeover, finished 16th, 49 points behind Arsenal. Greece hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Arsenal’s Current Squad
Current players Myles Lewis-Skelly, Cristhian Mosquera, and Max Dowman had not been born; Bukayo Saka was just two. Arsenal played at Highbury, moving to the Emirates in 2006.
Coaching Changes
Pep Guardiola retired from playing, managed Barcelona (14 trophies), Bayern Munich (7 trophies), and won six Premier League titles with Manchester City. Arteta, then 22, was about to join Real Sociedad from Rangers before returning to the UK with Everton in 2005.
Since 2004, approximately two billion people have been born worldwide.
