Slavia Prague's unbeaten run compared to Arsenal Invincibles and other records

Slavia Prague have eclipsed Arsenal's Invincibles despite their record-breaking unbeaten run ending in derby defeat to city rivals Sparta Prague.

The Czech champions were narrowly edged out 1-0 by Sparta in the 300th Prague Derby on Sunday as their staggering 54-match unbeaten league run came to a halt.

A deflected free-kick from Sparta winger Lukas Haraslin, who starred for Slovakia at this summer's Euro 2020, proved to be the difference as Slavia, who played much of the match with ten men, suffered their first league defeat in over a year and seven months.

The defeat to their city neighbours means a first Prague Derby loss in over five years, an impressive run stretching back to March 2016.

Arsenal's Invincibles celebrate winning the Premier League in 2004 after going a whole domestic league season unbeaten

Shortly after the full-time whistle, Slavia's official Twitter account proudly tweeted: "All good things come to an end... But this unbeaten run was something! 54 games. 1 year, 7 months and 3 days. All-time Czech record. Thank you, lads!"

Incredibly, the 54-match streak tops even that of Arsenal 's iconic Invincibles of 2004, with the Czech side going five better.

That year, Wenger's Invincibles became only the second team in the history of English football to go a whole domestic league season undefeated, after Preston North End 115 years previously, who only played 22 leagues games compared with Arsenal's 38.

The Gunners began their epic 49-match run with a 6-1 hammering of Southampton at Highbury in May 2003 and saw their streak ended in controversial fashion.

In what has now become known as 'The Battle of the Buffet', Wenger's men failed to extend their run to 50 matches as a controversially-awarded penalty helped Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United to a streak-ending 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

Tempers boiled over in the tunnel after the match and amid the carnage, Ferguson was struck by a slice of pizza in a clash that has gone down in Premier League folklore.

But how does Slavia's run compare with the other great unbeaten streaks from around Europe?

Astonishingly, their 54-game stretch is only the 16th longest, some 50 matches behind the all-time European record-holders Steaua Bucharest of Romania, who remarkably managed 104 league matches unbeaten from 1986 to 1989.

Were Arsenal's Invincibles the greatest team in the history of English football? Have your say in the comments.

A banner referencing Arsenal's Invincibles season of 2003-2004 still hangs in the Emirates today

Longest unbeaten league run:

104 - Steaua Bucuresti (1986-1989)

88 - Lincoln Red Imps (2009-2014)

63 - Sheriff Tiraspol (2006-2008)

62 - Celtic (1915-1917)

61 - Levadia (2008-2009)

60 - Union SG (1933-1935)

59 - Shirak (1993-1995)

59 - Pyunik (2002-2004)

58 - AC Milan (1991-1993)

58 - Olympiacos (1972-1974)

58 - Skonto (1993-1996)

56 - Celtic (2016-2017)

56 - Benfica (1976-1978)

55 - Porto (2010-2012)

55 - Shakhtar Donetsk (2000-2002)

54 - Slavia Prague (2020-2021)