Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final this afternoon aiming to end the club’s long wait for a trophy.
It’s been almost six years since Arsenal last won a major trophy, after lifting the FA Cup in Mikel Arteta’s first year in charge. Ironically, they did it with arguably the worst squad at his disposal during his tenure.
Although Arteta has brought the Gunners on leaps and bounds since taking over, silverware continues to elude them.
This season they seem primed to win something. Alongside today’s golden chance with the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal also have a healthy lead in the Premier League, and are into the last eight of the FA Cup and Champions League.
This is far from their worst ever drought – fans still shudder at the nine-year period they went without up until 2014 – but it does feel like they have left medals on the table in recent years.
Nine other Premier League clubs have attained glory in the meantime, some of whom have ended decades-long droughts or won something for the first time in their history.
For now anyway, here are all the teams lording it over Arsenal, in chronological order.
Premier League clubs who have won a major trophy more recently than Arsenal
Chelsea – Fifa Club World Cup, 2025
During the Roman Abramovich era, Chelsea never went longer than two years without some form of success (and even during that trophyless spell between 2012 and 2014 they won the Community Shield).
Things haven’t been as fruitful since, but Enzo Maresca ended a four-year mini drought in style last season. Chelsea eased to the Europa Conference League, before upsetting the odds to dismantle PSG in the Club World Cup final. In typically chaotic Chelsea fashion, Maresca headed for the exit just months later.
Tottenham Hotspur – Europa League, 2025
A trophy win that added insult to injury for Arsenal last season. Spurs struggled all season in the Premier League but broke a 17-year drought in the season’s final weeks.
Ange Postecoglou’s prophecy came true as Spurs secured silverware in his second season, but it wasn’t enough to save the Aussie from the axe.
Crystal Palace – FA Cup, 2025
The Eagles’ 120-year wait for a major trophy ended last year when they upset the odds to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final and pick up their first piece of major silverware. Proper fairytale stuff.
Liverpool – Premier League, 2025
After finishing runners-up two seasons in a row, last season was meant to be the year Arsenal would go and win the Premier League. Instead, Arne Slot rocked up and secured first place with relative ease in his debut campaign.
Newcastle United – League Cup, 2025
This one doesn’t quite sting as badly as missing out on the league, but it rankles supporters nonetheless. The Magpies defeated Arsenal in the semi-finals on their way to winning their first major trophy since 1969, and their first domestic triumph since 1955.
Man Utd – FA Cup, 2024
For all the chaos and controversy that has enveloped Manchester United in recent times, they still have a knack of reaching finals. They somehow won the 2024 FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the process.
Man City – Premier League, 2024
Manchester City ended last season trophyless, but it was only 2024 when they confirmed their status as the most dominant team in top-flight history, winning the Premier League for a fourth successive Premier League title. And the second at Arsenal’s expense.
West Ham United – Europa Conference League, 2023
Don’t let anyone say it’s ‘only’ the Conference League. West Ham have won a major European trophy in the past couple of years. West Ham! Captained by Declan Rice, no less.
Leicester City – FA Cup, 2021
Since Arsenal last won a trophy, Leicester City have won their first ever FA Cup, been relegated, won the Championship, and been relegated again.
Times are tough for the Foxes right now, but they will always have the Wembley win over Chelsea during the coronavirus pandemic to reminisce on.
Read More – Arsenal vs Manchester City – Carabao Cup final Combined XI
See Also –Â The most memorable League Cup final moments ever
