Arsenal’s Carabao Cup Curse: A look at 30 years worth of fixtures where they’ve lost

Arsenal are one of England’s most successful clubs, but the Carabao Cup has remained elusive for over 30 years. The Gunners last won the competition in 1993, and despite coming close multiple times, they have repeatedly fallen short. Their latest disappointment came in the 2024/25 season, where they were knocked out in the semifinals by Newcastle United.

Here’s a look at Arsenal’s key Carabao Cup near misses and how they failed to end their long wait for silverware.

Arsenal’s Carabao Cup Disappointments Since 1993

1995-96 (Semifinals)

Arsenal reached the last four but suffered a disappointing exit at the hands of Aston Villa. The Gunners had won the trophy just three years earlier but failed to replicate their success.

1997-98 (Semifinals)

In a season where Arsenal would go on to win the Premier League and FA Cup double under Arsène Wenger, their Carabao Cup run ended in the semifinals against Chelsea.

2003-04 (Semifinals)

During their famous ‘Invincibles’ season, Arsenal were unstoppable in the league but couldn’t translate that success into the League Cup, as they were eliminated in the semifinals by Middlesbrough.

2005-06 (Semifinals)

Arsenal once again reached the final four but were knocked out by Wigan Athletic on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw, a painful exit considering the quality of the squad.

2006-07 (Final) – Defeat to Chelsea

Arsenal finally made it to the final, fielding a young team against Chelsea. The Gunners took the lead through Theo Walcott, but a brace from Didier Drogba secured a 2-1 win for the Blues. The match was also remembered for a mass brawl involving several players.

2007-08 (Semifinals)

Arsenal’s League Cup frustrations continued as they were beaten 6-2 on aggregate by North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, suffering a humiliating 5-1 defeat in the second leg.

2010-11 (Final) – Birmingham’s Shock Winner

This remains one of Arsenal’s most painful defeats. Facing Birmingham City at Wembley, the Gunners were huge favorites, but a last-minute defensive mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczęsny gifted Obafemi Martins the winner in a 2-1 loss.

2017-18 (Final) – Outclassed by Man City

Arsenal returned to the final but were completely dominated by Manchester City, losing 3-0 at Wembley. Goals from Sergio Agüero, Vincent Kompany, and David Silva condemned the Gunners to another final defeat.

2021-22 (Semifinals) – Liverpool Too Strong

Arsenal put up a fight against Liverpool but were beaten 2-0 in the second leg after a goalless draw in the first, with Diogo Jota scoring both goals to send Liverpool through.

2024-25 (Semifinals) – Newcastle End Arsenal’s Run

This season, Arsenal were hoping to finally end their Carabao Cup drought, but after losing 2-0 at home in the first leg against Newcastle, they suffered another 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park, crashing out in the semifinals once again.

Why Have Arsenal Struggled in the Carabao Cup?

A major factor in Arsenal’s repeated failures in this competition is squad rotation. Historically, Arsenal managers have used the Carabao Cup to give young players game time, leading to weakened lineups in key matches. Additionally, fixture congestion and a focus on other competitions like the Premier League and Champions League have often meant Arsenal do not prioritize the League Cup.

Will Arsenal End Their League Cup Drought?

With Mikel Arteta building a strong squad, Arsenal have the quality to finally lift the trophy, but their focus remains on bigger prizes. For now, Arsenal fans will have to wait at least another year to see if their club can break their Carabao Cup curse.