Are Arsenal ready to win their first trophy
Arsenal’s long wait is finally over.
After nearly six years and four failed semi-final attempts, Arsenal have booked their place in a major final once again, edging past Chelsea 4–2 on aggregate in the Carabao Cup semi-final.
It will be their first final under Mikel Arteta since lifting the FA Cup in 2020 — and only the second of his tenure. The occasion may not have been a classic, but it was a decisive step forward.
The match was tense, scrappy and at times lacking quality, with both sides registering just two shots on target. Still, Arsenal were rarely troubled. And when Kai Havertz slotted home a stoppage-time goal to seal the tie, the eruption inside the Emirates Stadium made the moment’s importance unmistakable.
The victory sends Arsenal into their ninth League Cup final, where they will face either Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley on Sunday, 22 March.
A meeting with City would carry added significance. It would be a repeat of the 2018 final — a defeat for Arsenal — and a chance for Arteta to exact a measure of revenge against his former club. More than that, it would offer an opportunity to end a 33-year wait for League Cup glory and challenge the lingering perception of Arsenal as perennial nearly-men.
Arteta praised the atmosphere after the match, calling it a defining factor. He spoke of how long the club had waited for moments like this, and how sharing them together fuels belief, energy and unity throughout the squad.
Midfielder Declan Rice echoed that sentiment, saying the team’s recent near-misses have sharpened their hunger. After years of competing at the top without silverware, he believes this season carries a renewed edge — an extra desire to take the final step.
For much of Arteta’s reign, progress has come with frustration. Arsenal have pushed deep into competitions and challenged for the Premier League title, only to fall just short.
Now, with a final within touching distance, they stand one match away from ending a growing trophy drought. The question is whether this moment can finally silence the doubts.
The significance of simply winning a semi-final should not be underestimated. Since their FA Cup triumph in 2020, Arsenal had lost four straight semi-finals — without winning a single leg. Seeing this tie through could provide a crucial psychological lift, one that might grow even stronger if they lift the trophy in March.
Pressure has mounted in recent seasons as league titles slipped away, and expectations around silverware have intensified. While Arsenal’s ambitions stretch beyond the Carabao Cup, an early trophy could set the tone for the months ahead.
With four months of the season still to play, the squad remains stretched across multiple fronts. Yet confidence is high. The players believe they have both the depth and the leadership to compete everywhere.
History offers encouragement. More than half of recent League Cup winners have gone on to lift at least one additional trophy in the same season. Success tends to breed more success.
So just how far can this Arsenal side go?
With 17 weeks remaining until the Champions League final, talk of a quadruple may feel premature — but the circumstances are impossible to ignore. Arsenal sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League, are into the FA Cup fourth round, and have already secured a place in the Champions League last 16 after a flawless league-phase campaign.
No English club has ever won all four major trophies in a single season. Several have come close, but the clean sweep has always proved elusive.
Still, Arsenal are already further along than even their legendary Invincibles side of 2003–04, whose quadruple hopes were ended early despite going unbeaten in the league.
Arteta will be careful to keep expectations grounded. But for supporters who have waited years for moments like this, there is nothing wrong with dreaming.
After all, Arsenal are back in a final — and this time, it feels different.
