During the FA Cup tie yesterday, once we were 4-1 up and cruising through to a Wembley Semi Final, I started to think about when we last won a trophy. 2005 was that date, the same competition. It has been well documented in the press that it has been 9 years for Arsenal without a trophy. 9 long years. 9 years of suffering. But then I looked at who we were playing . Everton.
The last time Everton won a trophy was in 1995. With no chance of a trophy this year, that will make it 19 years without a trophy. But where are the headlines? Where are the big stories? There are none. Now Everton are a big side. They have won the league 9 times and the FA Cup 5 times. Before Arsene Wenger took over at Arsenal, Everton had only won 1 League title and 1 FA Cup less than Arsenal.
Everton are by no means a small club. They are 6th on the all time list of England’s most successful clubs. That position was 5th before Chelsea won the lottery. So why no headlines? 19 years is a lot longer than Arsenal’s 9. Remember, before Arsene Wenger, Arsenal & Everton were similar sized clubs (honours, stadium size, fan base, success, time in top division, etc).
This got me thinking further. So much is made of 9 years without a trophy for Arsenal, but if the press are hushed up on Everton’s 19 years, how long has it been for other clubs?
| Team | Last Trophy | Total Trophies |
| Manchester City | 2014 | 16 |
| Manchester United | 2013 | 62 |
| Swansea City | 2013 | 1 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2013 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 2013 | 26 |
| Liverpool | 2012 | 60 |
| Birmingham City | 2011 | 2 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2008 | 24 |
| Portsmouth | 2008 | 5 |
| Arsenal | 2005 | 39 |
| Middlesbrough | 2004 | 1 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2002 | 12 |
| Fulham | 2002 | 1 |
| Leicester City | 2000 | 4 |
| Aston Villa | 1996 | 23 |
| Everton | 1995 | 24 |
| Leeds United | 1992 | 9 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1991 | 9 |
| Crystal Palace | 1991 | 1 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1990 | 13 |
| Luton Town | 1988 | 1 |
| Reading | 1988 | 1 |
| Wimbledon | 1988 | 1 |
| Coventry City | 1987 | 1 |
| Oxford United | 1986 | 1 |
| Norwich City | 1985 | 2 |
| Ipswich Town | 1981 | 3 |
| Wolves | 1980 | 13 |
| West Ham United | 1980 | 6 |
| Southampton | 1976 | 1 |
| Derby County | 1975 | 4 |
| Sunderland | 1973 | 9 |
| Stoke City | 1972 | 1 |
| Swindon Town | 1969 | 1 |
| Newcastle United | 1969 | 13 |
| QPR | 1967 | 1 |
| Burnley | 1960 | 5 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 1958 | 5 |
| Blackpool | 1953 | 1 |
| Charlton Athletic | 1947 | 1 |
| Preston North End | 1938 | 4 |
| Cardiff City | 1927 | 2 |
| Huddersfid Town | 1926 | 5 |
| Sheffield United | 1925 | 5 |
| Barnsley | 1912 | 1 |
| Bradford City | 1911 | 1 |
| Bury | 1903 | 2 |
| Notts County | 1894 | 1 |
| Blackburn Olympic | 1883 | 1 |
| Old Etonians | 1882 | 2 |
| Old Carthusians | 1881 | 1 |
| Clapham Rovers | 1880 | 1 |
| Wanderers | 1878 | 5 |
| Royal Engineers | 1875 | 1 |
| Oxford University | 1874 | 1 |
When I see big sides such as Aston Villa and Everton having not won a trophy in nearly 2 decades, when Nottingham Forest, winners of 2 European Cups, have been trophyless since 1990, Wolves since 1980, and that ‘massive club’ Newcastle since 1969, I wonder, why the continual fuss over Arsenal?
Yes, 9 years is a long time for Arsenal, but only 9 clubs have won a trophy since Arsenal’s last win, and 5 of those clubs won just won trophy. The table above brings a lot into perspective.
We have a chance of winning the FA Cup this season. If we do win it, maybe the press can stop talking about Arsenal and start talking about Everton’s last 19 years, or Spurs not winning a league title since 1961.
Keenos
Follow @KeenosAFC
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
If we should win the FA Cup this year the media line next season will be “only one trophy in 10 years”
LikeLike
@David More, you are absolutely on point. This new generation of pressmen and pundits with their constantly skewed analyses will not just give us and our great Arsenal a rest. Whatever it is that fuels their disdain for anything Arsenal is better left to their own imaginations. What is most puzzling however, is the fact that some so-called Arsenal fans often tow the same line of thought and action at the slightest mishap that happens to our darling team! It’s ludicrous.
LikeLike
It might also be noted that hardly any of those other clubs have managed to move to a new , much bigger,stadium during recent history – let alone, fill it week in, week out, despite the ‘disaster’ of not winning a trophy. Even those that have won things have done so via winning the lottery (as you put it so well) or by putting themselves into, often unsustainable, debt.
LikeLike
Excellent summary and deconstruction of the media’s grand narrative about our club. Flamini should have hurled his ‘birthday’ cake in to the face of the itv interviewer yesterday and shouted, “stuff your nine candles up your 4rse, tu sac du merde!”
LikeLike
The continual fuss over Arsenal- the English media and the way they want to portray Frenchman Wenger as a loser
LikeLike
He IS a loser. Mourinho was spot on. It’s not just the media that “portray” him as such. There are many realist Gunners fans who feel the same. And other clubs have gone longer without a trophy, yes, but they didn’t have a manager who is the highest paid in Europe ( or the world ! ) did they ?
To deserve that kind of money, you have to produce results within a reasonable time frame. Wenger hasn’t. In fact, at any other major club with genuine ambition, he would have been sacked years ago. He’s been living on borrowed time for far too long. He should do the honourable thing and refuse the offer of a new contract. It’s insane, and rewards him for failure.
” In Arsene we rust.”
LikeLike
Whatever message (or was it insult?) which you intended by your last quote failed to achieve uor desired impact. Did I hear you say ‘insane’? Well, guess who is insane by his depraved lust for Wenger’s blood.
LikeLike
It’s very easy to look downwards at the clubs that have not won anything for ages and feel better about ourselves but l believe the true test is to compare ourselves with the clubs that have won trophies recently without oil money…ie Liverpool Manchester United Spurs Everton clubs of similar stature you will see that yes we have done well against the other teams except Manchester United…
Even with the move to the emirates l still feel arsenal could have done better Wengers arrogance got in the way of winning the other not too important trophies…
LikeLike
The thing that surprises me most is how few times (if any) it’s mentioned that Liverpool haven’t won the league in over 20 years.
LikeLike
True. But unlike at Arsenal, they’re not scared to take a risk, and have changed managers a number of times. Now under Brendan Rogers, it looks as though their boldness and vision could be about to pay off. They’re having their best season for ages, and are third favourites with the bookies. Our odds ? After the debacle at Stoke, we’ve blown out to a distant 20 /1.
” In Arsene we rust.”
LikeLike
That has been the case all along and Arsenal made it big without some one person putting in their millions, come end of season and Arsenal has won a trophy, u will hear 1 trophy in 10yrs. Media dislikes Arsenal due to the fact that they play attracting football and does not need to be spoiled by a reach millionaire to achieve what they have and can.
LikeLike
One trophy in ten years. Still would be a very poor record wouldn’t it ? Whilst it would be nice to win SOMETHING, in perspective it doesn’t make up for the previous nine years of underachievement and missed opportunities. But the A.K.B.’s are so desperate for ANY kind of success in order to validate ( in their minds ) their defence of him. Pathetic.
” In Arsene we rust.”
LikeLike
Excellent perspective – though does anyone really bother to count the League Cup as a trophy any more? I’m not even sure that the FA Cup should count as one. Realistically CL qualification is a better achievement than any domestic cup. Count how many teams have won only the trophies that matter, the league title first and CL second, and the triumphs of some of those who have won a trophy in the last 9 years comes into even sharper perspective
LikeLike
No. Realistically, WINNING the champion’s league is a better achievement. Not finishing top four, and shamefully celebrating it as though we had won the final itself – as many mugs and the A.K.B.’s did last season.
” In Arsene we rust.”
LikeLike
Am alwaz furious at doz hell of pundits and media gys… D way Arsenal’s issues are taken/addressed is alwaz appalling, with 2much stress/emphasis laid on less irrelevant stuffs… Wen all top clubs taste defeats, only ours tks d headline. eg wen Liverpool lost @home 2 Sothon earlier dis czn, or City’s loss at newly promoted Cardiff, it was almost nothn- ‘normal’ (and to mention Utd’s poor run) But wen we lost to Villa on d 1st day, or Stoke’s defeat, it was as if dat was d end of d world for us. Take a look at how dey’ve attacked Ozil in past weeks. A player who has brought in reputatn, added quality to d team turned into a ‘flop’ overnight for either failling to score in evry game (as if he is a striker) or for missing a spot kick which almost all big names and legends hav missed, using his weakness as anoda aimless point. Anoda hurting thing again is how not just our opponents (+ media/pundits) hav attacked us effortlessly, but even d so-called fellow supporters of ours hav blindly/ignorantly joined in…all in d lazy archaic excuz of: “i speak d truth despite being a gunner…” Dey wont still give up even after lifting d epl or d FA cup, but will stil find lazy/silly xcuz of “dey only managed to win bcos almost every top team changed dia managers or players; dey shud win it bck2bck before convincing us… I c us lifting a trophy dis czn, despite d odds… Long live Arsenal FC, long live GUNENERS!!
LikeLike
Media love plastics.
Utd, Chelsea and more recently City have been the epitome of plastic in the PL.
Not just us, even teams like the Kops who have had people stay loyal almost as us have had to hear this.
Its weird that you have to hear, “With that 3 pts, Utd could start to mount a challenge” when a couple of years ago, in a better spot than Utd are right now, we’ve had to hear “Could they be relegated/4th place is a dream”
Fuck the Media.
Forget the Rest.
Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be will be, We’re going to Wembleyy
LikeLike
People who say in Arsene we rust, would’ve cringed if he went to a team with means.
Dont just look at Wenger, do keep in mind our downfall and the Yank takeover kind of coincided.
Not a surprise there.
If Faginho with his golden Russian credit card is called a legend and Arsene, a man who built Arsenal into what it is today is a loser, then you should think again.
9 years of underachievement, yes.
Without Arsene’s contribution, we would have been off saying “To Dare Is To Do” like a bunch of idiots.
Back him, till the day he leaves.
Back each and every person associated with the Arsenal till they leave.
LikeLike
Why do the A.K.B.’S always criticise we realists, by listing Wenger’s achievements, as if we aren’t aware of them ? Of course we are. There’s no denying all the good things he did for us. But we’ve moved on, the A.K.B’S haven’t. They live in the past, not in the present. Why continue to idolise a man who has done as much as can for us ? Why can’t you free yourselves of your leech-like emotional attachment to him, and realise that the future success of the club lies in thanking him for what he HAS done, let go of your fear of change, and allow someone else to see what he can do ? EIGHTEEN YEARS he’s been with us. For exactly HALF that time he’s won nothing. Overall that’s a so-so 50-50 record. And getting worse every year he goes without a trophy. That’s an indication of a manager in decline.
Even if we somehow win the F.A. Cup, my opinion on him won’t change. He needs to do a lot more – particularly winning THE LEAGUE, ( a much tougher feat to achieve ) before he’ll regain my confidence in him. Until then – Wenger OUT !
” In Arsene we rust.”
LikeLike
We can win the FA to stop chetaring
LikeLike
Spectrum. We undetstand your view so you don’t have to end every comment with that term. It is very childish and so makes your opinion worthless!
Arsenal will always be important to me no matter who is in charge or how successful we are !
LikeLike
“Childish” ? It makes a solid statement of what I and many others believe to be the situation. And if you can’t see the truth in it, then to quote a favourite A.K.B. expression ; “Go support another club”.
Because you are effectively saying that the welfare of THE MANAGER is more important than that of Arsenal itself. You need to get your priorities right.
( Just for you Eppo ) – ” In Arsene we rust.”
LikeLike
Also, when we meet some situations that we have tried our best to solve, but the result is that we can’t change anything, then we should have a consciousness of “Let it go”. Maybe we are not willing to give it up, but we must realize that if we always make great efforts, but we still can’t gain the satisfactory result, we should convince ourselves not to insist on it. Let us acquire a great mood, and just let it go. Because we are not regretful, we have experienced it.
Oakley Dispatch II Sunglasses http://www.ebuyaccessories.com
LikeLike
It’s not arsenal it’s all about arsene wenger ! 😛
LikeLike