Arsenal have gone five years without winning a trophy. Can Arteta last if the drought extends to six?
Earlier this month, I attended Arsenal’s penultimate pre-season fixture of the summer against Villarreal at the Emirates. A match the Gunners contrived to lose twice, 3-2 in normal time and 4-3 on penalties.
Sat in the stand in front of the press box was an animated supporter, who spent the evening berating Mikel Arteta every time Villarreal scored, as if the occasion was a cup final rather than a meaningless warm-up game.
It was a one-man show, with others in his vicinity looking on bemused.
So what? You might ask. That type of thing happens all the time at stadiums up and down the country. Football fandom is fickle by its nature; you’re never going to please everybody.
Still, that dissent, isolated as it was, would surely have been entirely absent 12 months prior when Arteta led Arsenal to an 89-point season (one off the Invincibles’ record), or 12 months before that when he had masterminded a surprise title challenge. Is the tide beginning to turn?
After a tricky first couple of seasons – an FA Cup win in 2020 aside – Arteta had successfully unified the fanbase behind him and one of the youngest teams in the division by turning Arsenal into credible challengers once again.
The club have undeniably improved during his tenure. In his six full seasons in charge, Arsenal have finished eighth, eighth, fifth, second, second and second. In their last three European campaigns, Arsenal have reached the last 16 of the Europa League followed by the quarter and semi-finals of the Champions League.
I suspect that the vast majority of Arsenal supporters, particularly match-going ones, remain fully behind him. As the Gunners closed out a trophyless 2024-25, his name was sung loudly by travelling supporters at St Mary’s.
Social media tells a slightly different tale, with #ArtetaOut posts becoming more visible from January onwards, but opinions expressed online are always more extreme.
Nevertheless, it’s unquestionably a pivotal season for Arteta and Arsenal. As the team’s ceiling has been raised, naturally so have supporters’ expectations.
Initially, when a team is ascending, fans are happy to just be on the journey, taking in the sights, sounds and experiences along the way.
There comes a point, though, when they just want to reach the final destination, feet up on the sun lounger, flourescent cocktail in hand, palm trees swaying overhead, basking in their team’s glory.
Arteta himself has acknowledged that Arsenal need to evolve from challengers to champions.
“We still need to win a major title. That’s what we’re missing because the rest is done,” he said. On Friday, he insisted Arsenal will keep digging until they find gold.
It has been a fruitless pursuit so far.
In 2022-23, Arsenal were surprise bolters let down by their own inexperience, frittering away points in the closing weeks as the pressure intensified. In 2023-24, they were near faultless, pipped to the post by a single point by one of the most dominant teams in English football history in Manchester City.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Viktor Gy??keres of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Athletic Club at Emirates Stadium on August 09, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Gyokeres could be a difference-maker for Arsenal (Photo: Getty)
Last season was defined by injuries that decimated Arteta’s squad and brutally exposed a lack of depth. None of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz or Ben White played in more than 30 league games after all featuring in 36-plus the season before.
Rival fans, and some Arsenal ones, will claim the above are merely excuses for failing to get over the line.
Arteta has occasionally brought scorn and criticism on himself over his post-defeat reasoning, like his complaints over the Carabao Cup ball.
If Arsenal’s trophy drought extends to a sixth year, there will be less justification for falling short.
A once callow group has grown up. Gabriel, William Saliba, Saka and Odegaard have all been at Arsenal for at least three years. David Raya, Declan Rice and Havertz have been there for two.
Liverpool were dominant champions last season, but arguably lack the same dynastic aura that Manchester City had. The bookmakers are predicting the tightest title race in years, with precious little to separate last season’s top three and recently crowned world champions Chelsea also tipped to be in the mix.
This is the strongest squad that Arteta has ever had after a proactive summer transfer window under new sporting director Andrea Berta. Martin Zubimendi is one of the world’s best defensive midfielders and a potential game-changer.
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Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke are upgrades on last year’s understudies, while Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard have bolstered the backline and midfield.
And, at last, a prolific goalscorer has arrived. No striker in Europe can better Viktor Gyokeres’ haul of 97 goals across the past two seasons. The man with the mask provides precisely the penalty box instincts that Arsenal have so often lacked.
According to Transfermarkt, Arsenal have spent over £860m on signings since Arteta’s appointment six years ago, and the spending might not be done yet with Berta’s sights set on securing a left winger next, once there have been sales.
Other Premier League managers have won trophies recently with far less investment. The time to win is now.
Falter again and it’s unlikely there will be a lone voice calling for Arteta’s head.