Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has asserted that the club has underachieved in terms of securing silverware under manager Mikel Arteta over the past three seasons, despite acknowledging the significant progress made in transforming the team into consistent Premier League title challengers.
Arteta, 43, has overseen a notable resurgence at Arsenal since his appointment in 2019, with the team finishing as Premier League runners-up for three consecutive seasons. However, the Gunners have not won a trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 2020, Arteta’s first season in charge. During the recently concluded 2024-25 campaign, Arsenal were eliminated at the semi-final stage of both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup.
Speaking on the “Stick to Football” podcast, Henry expressed his view on the team’s development. “I’m not saying that I’m disappointed with Arsenal, but it’s normal that people are raising questions now about what the team is doing,” he said. While acknowledging the time needed for a manager to implement their vision, Henry added, “For the last three years Arsenal have been in a situation where they should have at least brought one cup or [reached] a final.”
Arsenal have averaged 82 points per season over the past three Premier League campaigns. However, Henry highlighted Manchester United as a point of comparison regarding cup success. “Manchester United have played in five finals in the last five years, the United that everyone laughs at – whereas for Arsenal in the last three years of building, they’ve not reached a final,” stated the former French international. “So I do understand when people ask the question, ‘surely you should compete for a trophy?'”
Henry’s comments introduce a critical perspective on Arsenal’s recent trajectory, balancing appreciation for their league consistency with an expectation for tangible success in the form of trophies.
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