Retrospectively it's now possible to see that the 2-2 scoreline at the Lane was also perfect in its own way, because it will help remind the Tiny Totts that it is also 2-2 in Championships won at there.
It's that time of year when tributes should be paid so here are about a thousand or so of mine – well 57 to be precise. In no particular order I'd like to thank the following for making 2003-4 such a memorable season.
1 I'd like to thank Van Nistelrooy without whose piss-poor penalty we almost certainly would not have won the Championship with an unbeaten run.
2 Martin Keown for the whole Old Trafford experience, I knew exactly how he felt and was 100% with him in spirit. Indeed I was going as berserk in the Stand as he was on the pitch.
3 I'd like to thank the wind up merchants at the F A (the **** Arsenal brigade) for once again getting on our backs, because ultimately this helped our cause.
4 Chelski and Manure for forcing us on to produce bigger and better performances, whilst their overpriced purchases wallowed in our slipstream.
5 Sir Anal Fergusmoan for his humility in defeat and his sincerest congratulations for our total domination of the League, actually you'd probably know he was seriously unwell if he ever did had a good word to say about us. The fact that he doesn't like us makes it all the better that he's so far behind.
6 Manure's CEO for reminding us all how much bigger they are than all the other Clubs, because turning over the big bucks boys makes winning the League so much more satisfying.
7 Abramovich for confirming that money alone can't buy you a championship.
8 Arsene Wenger for proving that astute, long-term purchases can.
9 Tottenham Hotspur's Board and management for maintaining their ongoing pathetically low standards and developing poor judgement into an art form.
10 I'd like to thank Ranieri for all his tinkering.
11 Leicester, Leeds and Wolves for propping up our division.
12 The video panel for their continued sense of humour.
13 All those crap referees who just go to prove that we can win things in spite of them.
14 Hooligans at Tottenham for reminding me that football nutters still exist outside the Stadia and that they probably will never go away.
15 Portsmouth fans for their fine example as to how supporters should both support their team and appreciate the opposition.
16 All the fans in the West Lower Stand who put up with my foul and abusive language at matches, directed primarily at crap refs.
17 All the many fans I've sat with at away games for the same reason.
18 John for driving me all over the country to worship the mighty Arsenal.
19 Arsene Wenger for providing us with the best Arsenal squad ever.
20 Pat Rice for being the anchor.
21 Arsene Wenger for keeping Vieira at our Club.
22 Boro Primorac for his unheralded beavering away in the background.
23 Arsene Wenger for his honesty in answering journalists.
24 Tony Colbert, Craig Gant, Gary Lewin and Colin Lewin for keeping the team in such impressive trim, so wonderfully fit and for enabling them to return to action so quickly once injuries occurred.
25 Arsene Wenger for all those fabulous soundbites.
26 Daniel Fiszman and Ken Friar for their immense efforts in obtaining both the go ahead, and the necessary finance for Gooner Grove.
27 Arsene Wenger for achieving the impossible by successfully replacing our famous back four without detracting from our ability to go forward.
28 The entire Arsenal board for giving Le Boss the backing he so richly deserves and for making him feel that he doesn't want to leave despite offers for pretty well every decent football management job in the world.
29 Arsene Wenger for staying with us to fulfil his destiny – it will happen.
30 Steve Rowley and his scouts for being so excellent at their jobs.
31 Arsene Wenger for planning short-term, medium-term and long term, thus always putting the interests of the Club first.
32 Patrick Vieira for still being here and for his colossal presence both on, and now, off the field. We are blessed with a very worthy captain, who has successfully followed Arsenal's greatest ever captain.
33 Arsene Wenger for making a monkey out of Fergusmoan.
32 Kolo Toure for proving that those who considered him to be a headless chicken were talking through their rear-ends. A special thanks for his total enthusiasm, obvious joy of the game and his passion. Give continued good health and no serious injuries I have no doubt that he will become one of our all time legends.
33 Thierry Henry for signing again simply because he's happy to be here and for such a feast of gob-smacking, almost unbelievable skills, not to mention all those incredible goals.
34 Robert Pires for making the effort to defend this season and for being such a sublime footballeur.
35 Sol Campbell for finally winning a Championship at White Hart Lane – how sweet was that?
36 Gilberto Silva for being a largely unappreciated hero.
37 Jens Lehmann for his single mindedness and entertaining little ways.
38 Freddie Ljungberg for being Freddie.
39 Francis Jeffers for going back to Everton.
40 Sylvain Wiltord for going on gardening leave.
41 Ray Parlour for his honest endeavour and his indeterminable Arsenal spirit.
42 Igors Stepanovs for crossing the channel.
43 Ashley Cole for his determination and dedication, and for proving himself to be a worthy member of the League's best defence. Especially as numerous ignorant souls have said he can't defend.
44 Lauren for being the best attacking right back we've ever seen at Highbury. Despite the fact that many claim he can't defend our goals against column suggests otherwise.
45 Edu for getting there with a smile and without ever moaning about being on the periphery of the squad for so long.
46 Aliadiere, Bentley, Clichy, Fabregas, Hoyte, Reyes, Senderos, Stack, Taylor and now van Persie for giving us such great confidence in the future.
47 Chris Parry for publishing my match reports and for producing the best Arsenal website on the planet.
48 Big Fat Ron for confirming what a total prat he is and always has been.
49 ‘The Gooner' for keeping the faith on a regular basis.
50 ‘Sky TV' and ‘ITV' for the games I couldn't get to in person.
51 ‘Arseblog' for starting my day with a smile.
52 Wrighty for setting Thierry Henry a decent target to aim at.
53 Arsene Wenger for a style of football that begs comparison with the classic Brazilian and Dutch sides.
54 Ian Wright, Frank McLintock, Lee Dixon, Charlie George, Kenny Sansom and all the other Arsenal old boys who so unashamedly continue to express their bias in the media.
55 All the players and managers who might have gone to Tottenham but didn't.
56 Arsene Wenger for 3 Championships, 3 FA Cup wins and European Football every season.
57 Dennis Bergkamp for proving those that had written him off so utterly wrong. Our first international superstar is as much loved and as much appreciated as he was when he first arrived to change the course of Arsenal history. His passing has been as beautiful as ever - and his through ball to Pat for our equaliser at Stamford Bridge (the League game) was the pass of the season for me.
I think a toast is in order, and I propose it should be done with the same attitude that Arsene Wenger approaches life and football. That is to say an appreciation of the good things, the pleasure and enjoyment of things as they are now, but a totally focussed concentration on the next objectives.
So my toast is: 'Thank you Arsene, and here's to our 14th. Championship next season'.