Will Arsenal Win a Major Trophy in 2026? Mikel Arteta’s 57-Word Answer

Mikel Arteta has been Arsenal manager since December 2019. He is currently in his seventh season in the job and has so far delivered two Community Shields and one FA Cup in terms of silverware.

But the expectation levels at the Emirates Stadium are now much higher than they were when Arteta replaced Unai Emery six years ago. So much so that there has even been talk about Arsenal possibly winning the quadruple this season.

While such a dream seems a long way off right now, Arsenal are in a very strong position as 2025 draws towards a close. They will spend Christmas Day top of the Premier League. They also currently lead the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, while a penalty-shootout win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday night booked Arteta’s men a spot in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

Arsenal dominated Tuesday’s game in terms of shots (25 to Palace’s eight) and possession (68.7%), but needed a Maxence Lacroix own goal to take the lead in the 80th minute. Palace then equalised courtesy of Marc Guehi in added time, before a marathon shootout ended with Lacroix failing to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga after the first 15 takers had successfully converted their kicks.

Arteta had made eight changes to his starting XI following Arsenal’s weekend win at Everton in the Premier League. Asked how he felt his side performed with such a different line-up, Arteta told Sky Sports:

“It is always tough. They don’t always have the right chemistry. There are a lot of changes and some of them haven’t played together, but their attitude is excellent.”

Mikel Arteta quizzed about Arsenal’s 2026 trophy chances

“We had some big individual performances tonight. It was great to have Gabriel Jesus make his first start in nearly a year and his 100th appearance for the club. Kepa as well — his level of commitment with the group is just incredible.”

In a later interview with CBS Sports, Arteta was asked by Poppy Miller if Arsenal would win a major trophy in 2026, although her question was worded less directly than that.

Miller put it to the Spaniard: “Now six seasons here, you have come agonisingly close so many times in the past. What gives you the sense that this season is it — that this season is different? Because it feels like there is a different air around here at the minute.”

Arteta replied with a 57-word statement. He said through a smile: “Yeah, there is a lot of belief and the players really want it. Everybody really wants it.

“As you said, we’ve been really close, so it is just that transition of winning — the margins are very small. We saw that again tonight and we need to do everything that we can to achieve what we want.”

Will Arsenal win a major trophy in 2026?

Arsenal head into the second half of the 2025/26 season still in contention for four major trophies — the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. While winning any of them would be a cause for celebration, lifting one of the first two would mean much more to Arteta and his team.

The Gunners have never been champions of Europe, while their last Premier League title came way back in 2004. But UK bookmakers currently make Arsenal the favourites for both competitions — 4/5 for the Premier League and 4/1 market leaders in the Champions League betting.

Those odds suggest a 55.56% implied probability that Arsenal will win the Premier League this season, while they are said to have a 20% chance of lifting the Champions League.