Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pushed back against the suggestion that the Gunners have only won one trophy during his five years in charge, as they prepare for a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Since taking over from Unai Emery in December 2019, Arteta led Arsenal to an unexpected FA Cup victory just eight months later. He has since rejuvenated the club, turning them into Premier League title contenders, nearly clinching the title in both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. However, there has been no further success in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup, and with recent struggles in the league, questions have arisen about the club’s trophy credentials.
When a reporter pointed out that Arsenal hadn’t won a major trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, Arteta quickly corrected the narrative.
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“The Charity Shield twice, no?” he replied, before elaborating on the broader issue.
Indeed, Arsenal has lifted the Community Shield twice in recent years, defeating Liverpool and Manchester City on penalties in 2020 and 2023, respectively. The Community Shield, also known as the Charity Shield, is an annual match between the FA Cup winners and the Premier League champions. While considered a minor trophy in England, Arteta, who was raised in Spain, places more value on it. He isn’t the only one, as Pep Guardiola also questioned why English football doesn’t “count” the Community Shield, and José Mourinho referred to his 2016/17 Manchester United season as a “treble” after winning the Carabao Cup, Europa League, and Community Shield.