Mikel Arteta's team just achieved something Arsenal have only ever achieved twice before

Arsenal are Champions League Finalists and it still hasn't sunk in yet. We can't believe we're writing that, and you probably cannot believe you're reading this sentence either. Tuesday night's 1-0 victory over Atlético Madrid was the most famous night Emirates Stadium has seen, with the atmosphere off the scale, from 6pm when the team buses arrived until long after Daniel Siebert had blown his final whistle. This could prove to be the most successful season of Arsenal's 140 year history, with four games standing between this team and immortality.

On Saturday 30 May at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Arsenal will compete in a 39th major cup final across all competitions, but there is something unique about this season.

Arsenal's complete list of cup final appearances

Note: Community Shields and equivilant Super Cups are not included.

Earlier in the campaign, a game no one wants to talk or even think about ever again, Arteta's team did reach the EFL Cup Final too. The semi-final triumph over Chelsea was a joyous two-legged affair, albeit the final at Wembley could not have provided a greater contrast, as the team did not show up, easily swatted aside by Manchester City.

Nevertheless, the Gunners' subsequent exploits in the Champions League means that this is only the third season in which Arsenal will feature in multiple cup finals in the same campaign.

Seasons Arsenal have reached 2 cup final

1979/80

• FA Cup Final - lost 1-0 to West Ham. Cup Winners' Cup Final - lost on penalties to Valencia.

1992/93

• League Cup Final - won 2-1 vs Sheffield Wednesday. FA Cup Final - won 2-1 vs Sheffield Wednesday after extra time in a replay.

2025/26

• League Cup Final - lost 2-0 to Manchester City. Champions League Final - will face PSG.

Back in 1979/80, Terry Neill's team played 70 matches across all competitions, which remains in the Guinness World Records for most fixtures played by any top-tier European club in a single season. Four semi-finals against Liverpool in the FA Cup did not help, with unlimited replays in those days.

Thus, by the time they got to the two finals, the players were all knackered. Thus, Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by second division West Ham at Wembley, before also losing the Cup Winners' Cup Final on penalties against Valencia just four days later. Liam Brady and Graham Rix the men to miss from 12 yards in Brussels.

It was though a pair of happier occasions 13 years later when George Graham's team beat Sheffield Wednesday in both the League Cup Final and FA Cup Final. Up until Liverpool and Chelsea met in the finals of 2022, never before had the same two clubs contested both in the same campaign.

However, unlike Arteta's modern day team, those sides were focussed on cup glory, not able to compete in the league. In 1980, the Gunners finished a respectable fourth, eight points below champions Liverpool. In '93 however, Graham's side ended up 10th, coming fourth and 12th in the subsequent campaigns too, as cup commitments were prioritised.

Right now though, Arteta's side are top of the Premier League with their destiny in their own hands; beat West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace and they will be champions for the first time in 22 years. Thus, not only have this current group of players reached two cup finals, a very rare feat in the same campaign, but they could achieve a Premier League and Champions League double.

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