THE ARSENAL INVINCIBLES

This title-winning side were officially hailed as the best ever Premier League team, but that is an absolute joke. In fact, it’s an insult to those who were better.
The Arsenal Invincibles – the side that went unbeaten in 2003-04 season – saw that campaign out with tedious draws at Spurs and Portsmouth and home to Birmingham to preserve the record.

Invincibles: Arsenal celebrate with the Premier League trophy in 2004, having gone the season unbeaten

French revolution: Patrick Vieira (left) and Thierry Henry celebrate winning the league at White Hart Lane

Professor: But Arsene Wenger - in 2004 - had his side frequently playing for a draw

Arsenal played for draws – not the mark of a great side.
It's hard to criticise going unbeaten in a season (and I won’t mention Pires’ dive for the equaliser against Pompey early in the season), but defeats in the FA Cup by Manchester United and in the Carling Cup by Middlesbrough (Toure, Parlour, Keown, Edu, Gilberto Silva, Ashley Cole, Reyes and Vieira all played a significant part over the two legs, so Wenger didn’t 'play the kids') actually mean Arsenal were not totally unbeatable that season.
They also lost to Chelsea in the Champions League, so the 'Invincibles' lost to three Premier League sides. They weren’t invincible.

Beatable: Arsenal lost to Chelsea in the Champions League, with Wayne Bridge scoring the winner

Out-stripped: Chelsea beat Arsenal's winning points total by five the following season in 2005

In that season Arsenal scored 73 goals. 20 fewer than the champions – Man City – scored in 2011-12. Not impressive.
Arsenal ended up with 90 points at the end of their unbeaten campaign, five points less than Chelsea accumulated the following season.
It makes a mockery of the Gunners' 03-04 side being nominated as the best side in the first 20 years of the Premier League. How can they be the best when the following season another club amassed more points?
The Invincibles’ greatness is a total myth. The 2002 Arsenal champions were a better side in my view.

Truly great: Arsenal celebrate winning the Premier League title at Old Trafford in 2002

ITALY’S FOUR WORLD CUP WINS

Two of these should instantly be wiped from the records, the other two were won by default.
In 1934, Italy beat Czechoslovakia in the World Cup final. Shortly before the final, referee Ivan Eklind visited the private box occupied by Benito Mussolini, the ruthless Italian fascist dictator. Ninety minutes of dubious decisions later, Italy were crowned world champions. Eklind was banned from refereeing for life.

Pressure: Italy won the 1934 (above) and 1938 (below) World Cups with dictator Benito Mussolini watching

Similar story in 1938, when Hungary lost 4-2 to Italy. Mussolini had told the Azzuri to 'Win or die!' and some understandably took him at his word.
So when Hungary equalised to make it 1-1, it’s believed the Italian players pleaded with their opponents to spare them death. Italy went on to win 4-2, and after the game the Hungary keeper Antal Szabo said: 'I may have let in four goals but at least I saved their lives.'

Controversial: Paolo Rossi, Italy's hero in the 1982 World Cup, had just returned from a ban for gambling

In 1982, Brazil were by far the best team but Italy beat them, and won the final thanks to goals from Paolo Rossi who had just come back from a two-year ban after a betting scandal. That doesn’t sit right with me.
And in 2006 Italy won the final against France only after one of the world’s finest players, Zinedine Zidane was provoked into headbutting an opponent and was sent off in his last ever game of professional football.
Some of it sinister, some conjecture, but Italy are the most over-decorated footballing nation of all time in my view.

Glory: But Italy won the World Cup in 2006 after Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi (below)

DAVID BECKHAM

There is a myth that David Beckham wasn’t a great footballer. I shatter that no problem in the book – a quick look at his contribution during his time at Manchester United puts it to bed.
How about the quality of his first goal at Villa? The halfway line goal at Wimbledon? Or my personal favourite, the dink on-the-run over David James in 2002 in United’s 5-3 win at West Ham?
Sir Alex Ferguson said Beckham was the 'most effective midfielder on the park' in the 1999 Champions League final victory over Bayern. He produced big performances, and scored big goals, in big games for United. And for England? How about Greece 2001, and THAT free kick?
Scroll down for video of four special Beckham moments

Just a brand? Beckham was sheer quality at United, from his halfway line goal at Wimbledon (left) to winning the Champions League, where Sir Alex Ferguson hailed him as the 'most effective midfielder on the park'

But the critics bang on about 'Brand Beckham' and criticise him with no foundation whatsoever.
At the 2006 World Cup, Beckham was hammered. The truth is England were awful and Beckham was one of many players blamed for the failure.
But people didn’t like the WAG culture, which Beckham was somehow deemed to be responsible for. The critics failed to judge him where it mattered – on the pitch.
Beckham’s contribution was not only significant, it was sometimes match-winning.

National hero: Beckham put England in the 2002 World Cup with a stunning free-kick against Greece

Consistent: Beckham was even the match-winner in the dreadful 2006 World Cup

In the first game his free-kick was touched in for an own goal. Then he set up both goals to beat Trinidad & Tobago. England were through with a game to spare, and Beckham had assisted all three goals.
In the knockout game against Ecuador, Beckham scored the only goal – direct from a free kick.
So even when he wasn’t totally on his game, and wasn’t fully fit, he still made a very positive contribution for England at the World Cup. That to me is the mark of a great player.