Arsenal are one of the most successful clubs in FA Cup history, having won the competition a record 14 times. Their last FA Cup triumph came in 2020, when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final at Wembley.
Quick Summary
Here is a quick summary of when Arsenal last won the FA Cup:
- Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2020, defeating Chelsea 2-1 in the final
- This was their 14th FA Cup title, the most in the competition’s history
- Arsenal won the final through goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe
- The win came after Arsenal beat Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Southampton and Manchester City in earlier rounds
- Mikel Arteta won the FA Cup in his first season as Arsenal manager
The 2020 FA Cup Campaign
Arsenal entered the 2019-20 FA Cup in the third round, as is tradition for clubs in the Premier League. They were drawn against Leeds United, who at the time were in the Championship. Arsenal won the match 1-0 through a goal from Reiss Nelson.
In the fourth round, Arsenal faced Bournemouth. Despite Bournemouth being a Premier League side, Arsenal advanced with a 2-1 victory away from home. Both Arsenal goals came from young players, with Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah getting on the scoresheet.
The fifth round draw pitted Arsenal against Portsmouth. Portsmouth played in League One, the third tier of English football, meaning Arsenal were heavy favorites. However, Portsmouth put up a good fight before Arsenal won 2-0 through goals from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Nketiah.
In the quarterfinals, Arsenal were drawn against Sheffield United. The Blades were enjoying an excellent season back in the Premier League and sat 7th in the table. Arsenal, however, emerged victorious with a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane. Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos scored for the Gunners.
The semi-final draw resulted in a North London derby, with Arsenal facing Tottenham. Due to COVID-19, the match took place at an empty Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 2-0 through a Pepe first half penalty and an Alexandre Lacazette late goal.
That victory set up a final against Chelsea at Wembley. In Frank Lampard’s first season, Chelsea had already secured Champions League qualification. But Arsenal got the better of them on the day, winning 2-1 to lift the FA Cup trophy.
2020 FA Cup Final
The 2020 FA Cup final took place on August 1, 2020 at Wembley Stadium. Here are some key facts about the match:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 28th minute
- Chelsea equalized through a Christian Pulisic goal in the 45th minute
- Aubameyang scored again in the 67th minute to restore Arsenal’s lead
- Arsenal substitute Ainsley Maitland-Niles was sent off in the 90th minute but Arsenal held on
- The 2-1 win secured Mikel Arteta’s first trophy as Arsenal manager
Winning the FA Cup final qualified Arsenal for the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League group stage. It was seen as an encouraging achievement for Arteta’s first season.
Recent Arsenal FA Cup Triumphs
Arsenal’s victory in 2020 was their fourth FA Cup trophy in seven seasons. Here is a look back at their other recent triumphs:
2014 FA Cup
- Arsenal 3-2 Hull City
- Goals from Cazorla, Ramsey, and an extra-time winner from Aaron Ramsey
- Comeback from 2-0 down at Wembley
- Ended 9 year trophy drought for Arsenal
2015 FA Cup
- Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa
- Walcott, Sanchez, Mertesacker, and Giroud scored goals
- First time since early 20th century Arsenal won back-to-back FA Cups
2017 FA Cup
- Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
- Controversial Moses red card evened out Ramsey offside opener
- Wenger became most successful FA Cup manager with 7 wins
This sustained success in the FA Cup highlighted Arsenal’s struggles in the league. They failed to mount a serious Premier League title challenge during this time period.
Comparison With Other Top Teams
Here is a table comparing Arsenal’s recent FA Cup success with their biggest rivals:
| Club | FA Cup Wins 2014-2020 |
|---|---|
| Arsenal | 4 |
| Chelsea | 1 |
| Manchester United | 1 |
| Manchester City | 1 |
| Liverpool | 0 |
| Tottenham | 0 |
This shows that Arsenal have dominated the cup in recent years. No other top Premier League club came close to their success. However, Chelsea, Man City, Man United and Liverpool have all had more league success than Arsenal in this timeframe.
Arsenal’s Overall FA Cup Legacy
While Arsenal’s last triumph came in 2020, the club has a long and illustrious history in the FA Cup. Here are some key facts about Arsenal’s overall FA Cup legacy:
- 14 wins, more than any other team
- Won first FA Cup in 1930, beating Huddersfield Town 2-0
- Won three titles in four seasons in early 2000s (2002, 2003, 2005)
- Won three titles in four seasons again recently (2014, 2015, 2017)
- Won seven FA Cups under manager Arsene Wenger
- 27 total appearances in the final, another competition record
Based on this history, Arsenal are undoubtedly the most successful club in FA Cup history. Their last win in 2020 continued their legacy of FA Cup dominance.
Why Has Arsenal Been So Successful in the FA Cup?
There are several factors behind Arsenal’s sustained FA Cup success over the decades:
- Strong motivation – the club values domestic cup success highly
- Squad depth – can rotate in cup games to stay fresh
- Style of play – fast-paced attacking football suits cup format
- Wembley experience – used to playing high stakes games there
- Lucky draws – have avoided tough early round matchups
- Strong cup managers – Graham, Wenger and Arteta prioritized the FA Cup
While some suggest Arsenal have focused too heavily on the FA Cup in recent seasons, their plethora of wins prove it’s a successful strategy.
When Will Arsenal Win Their Next FA Cup?
Predicting the future is impossible, but Arsenal’s pedigree and squad strength suggests they will contend to win more FA Cups in the coming years. Here are some key factors that could see Arsenal win their next FA Cup soon:
- Young talent – Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli coming through
- Good management – Arteta has unified club and created winning mentality
- Smart transfers – players like Gabriel and Partey have improved first XI
- Squad depth – especially in attack compared to rivals
- Winning experience – many players remain from 2020 win
Arteta clearly wants to win more silverware with Arsenal. His FA Cup success in 2020 will have the club confident of more triumphs in the next few seasons. Arsenal are building momentum, and another deep FA Cup run could see them lift the trophy again soon.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s last FA Cup win came in 2020, when they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final at Wembley. This was their fourth FA Cup trophy in seven seasons, cementing their status as the competition’s most successful club.
Arsenal have a long history with the FA Cup dating back to 1930. Their recent dominance, led by Arsene Wenger, shows how highly the club values this trophy. Arsenal’s record 14 FA Cup wins is unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.
The Gunners have the quality and pedigree to win more FA Cups in the next few years under Mikel Arteta’s management. Their supporters will hope Arsenal’s next FA Cup triumph comes soon as they look to add to their incredible legacy in the world’s oldest football competition.
