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By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has vowed to end the club’s five-year trophy drought after a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United. The slim victory secured the Gunners a place in the Champions League for the 2025–26 season.
Declan Rice’s superb second-half strike from the edge of the area ended Arsenal’s five-match winless run and ensured they will finish in the Premier League’s top five .
Despite this achievement, Arteta expressed disappointment at another ‘trophyless’ season, emphasizing the need for renewed ambition in the summer.
He acknowledged that while they had a dream of winning major trophies, circumstances beyond their control prevented them from achieving it. He urged the team to chase that dream with renewed gusto and positivity next season .
Arsenal’s only silverware under Arteta remains the 2020 FA Cup, and the club hasn’t won the league title for 21 years.
Looking ahead, Arteta faces a critical off-season as co-chair Josh Kroenke expressed intentions to invest in squad improvements. The match involved emotional moments for fans and outgoing players like Kieran Tierney and Jorginho, who received send-off at the Emirates Stadium .
Despite securing a Champions League spot and finishing second in the league for the third consecutive season, Arteta has not won a major trophy since the FA Cup in 2019/20.
The club reached the semi-finals of both the Carabao Cup and Champions League this season but fell short, losing to Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.
Their FA Cup performances have also been poor since Arteta’s first season.
With a significant transfer expenditure exceeding £660 million since 2020, Paul Merson believes that continued lack of silverware may test the patience of Arsenal’s management .
In summary, while Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United secured a Champions League spot and second place in the Premier League, the club’s trophy drought continues.
Arteta’s vow to end this drought, signals a commitment to future success, but the pressure to deliver silverware is mounting. The Gunners will be glad if at least a silverware is again netted as consolation.