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 