Arsenal's Premier League Seasons Following Community Shield Wins
Arsenal sent a strong message with their recent Community Shield win against Manchester City.
The Gunners, who now hold 18 Community Shield titles, second only to Manchester United’s 21, secured a 3–0 victory over an Enzo Maresca-led Manchester City side in the 2026 edition. This result fuels the belief that Arsenal might claim back-to-back Premier League titles after their first league crown in 22 years last season.
Although Arsenal haven’t made major changes during the summer, there is a confidence around Mikel Arteta’s squad that their main rivals don’t share. The weaknesses of Manchester City were exposed at Cardiff, where Pep Guardiola’s influence seemed less dominant.
Still, Arsenal fans have seen high hopes arise from Community Shield wins before. Since 1992, the Gunners have won the competition nine times, and here’s a look at how they performed in the league after each win.
1998–99 Season
Arsenal began the Premier League era by beating Manchester United 3–0 in the Community Shield. They had been champions the previous season with 78 points but ended up second after dropping points late on, losing their final two matches. Manchester United finished just one point behind, going on to win a historic treble. Arsenal’s slow start to the campaign, with four draws in their first five games, cost them dearly.
1999–00 Season
Arsenal again defeated Manchester United 2–1 in the Community Shield. That year saw the arrival of Thierry Henry, who became top scorer with 26 goals. Yet despite his impact, Arsenal couldn’t surpass Manchester United, who won the title with 91 points, the second-highest total at the time. Arsenal’s inconsistent form around New Year prevented a strong title challenge.
2002–03 Season
After losing veterans Lee Dixon and Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira became captain as Arsenal tried to defend their title. Thierry Henry was still the league’s top performer, but Manchester United’s Ruud van Nistelrooy outscored him and helped United reclaim the championship. Arsenal led for much of the season but faltered late, notably drawing with United and losing to Leeds, which effectively handed the title to their rivals.
2004–05 Season
The ’Invincibles’ of the prior year struggled to defend their unbeaten run. Though Arsenal had dominated Manchester United for years, it was Chelsea, under José Mourinho, who disrupted the order. Chelsea claimed their first Premier League title with a record 95 points and a stingy defense. Arsenal recovered to finish second but were 12 points behind the champions.
2014–15 Season
After a decade without major trophies, Arsenal returned to the Community Shield, thrashing Manchester City 3–0. The team had drifted away from title contention since the early 2010s, mostly fighting for Champions League spots. Alexis Sánchez arrived and scored 16 league goals, sparking hope for a title bid. Still, a 2–0 loss to Chelsea exposed the gap, and Arsenal finished third, comfortably ahead of Tottenham Hotspur.
2015–16 Season
Known as the season Leicester City shocked the football world, Arsenal twice beat the Foxes, including a dramatic 2–1 home win. Despite this, Arsenal finished 10 points behind Leicester. A poor spell after those wins, with losses to Manchester United and Swansea, hurt their chances. Spurs emerged as the bigger threat, and Arsenal ended second, unable to capitalize fully.
2017–18 Season
This was Arsène Wenger’s final season after 22 years in charge. Arsenal won the Community Shield on penalties against Chelsea but endured their lowest Premier League points tally since 1995–96, finishing sixth with 63 points. Big-money signings Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang combined for 24 league goals, yet defensive frailties caused 13 defeats.
2020–21 Season
Arsenal showed promise beating Liverpool in the Community Shield, but the league campaign was tough. A seven-game winless streak pushed them to 15th place, almost costing Mikel Arteta his job. A turnaround came inspired by Emile Smith Rowe, with four wins in five games and a strong finish lifting them to eighth.
2023–24 Season
By this season, Arsenal had re-established themselves as serious contenders. Their previous season saw them come close to beating a treble-winning Manchester City for the title, hindered only by William Saliba’s injury. The massive signing of Declan Rice highlighted their ambition. Arsenal finished with 89 points, their best since the ’Invincibles,’ but have yet to win the Premier League after starting the campaign with a Community Shield victory.
- Community Shield Wins: 18
- Premier League Titles After Community Shield Win: None so far
- Highest Points Total Following a Shield Win: 89 points (2023–24 season)
