On the 21st of May 2005, then captain Patrick Viera lifted the FA Cup for Arsenal after they beat Manchester United in a penalty shoot out, and not many would have believed that almost six years later, the North Londoners would still be waiting for their next piece of silverware.
Just over a month ago it looked more likely than ever that Arsène Wenger's men would end their trophy drought with all four major trophies still at their disposal. However, since then their season has taken something of a nose-dive and the only hope for fans and players to cling on to is that they can bridge the seven point gap between themselves and Manchester United to win the league (albeit with a game in hand).
The Gunners had a great first half to their season. But despite players such as Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Englishman Jack Wilshere really hitting form over the winter, none of them have been able to stop the collapse that started in the Carling Cup final at Wembley. Which was probably the side's best chance of a trophy out of all four still available to them at that time.
Second in the league, fresh off the back of a win over arguably the best team in the world Barcelona, not many people would have predicted the shock 2-1 win for Birmingham City. And could the winning goal have come in a worse possible fashion for Arsenal?
The image of Obafemi Martins tapping the ball into an empty net after the miss-communication from Szczesny and Koscielny will be burned into the minds of Arsenal fans for many years to come. And it was from this moment, just two minutes from time, that the North Londoner's season, one that had looked so promising, started to unravel.
As heartbreaking as that was for anybody involved with Arsenal, Wenger promised they would bounce back. And bounce back they did as just three days later they crushed lowly Leyton Orient 5-0 in an FA Cup replay, reminding themselves and everybody that they still had a lot to play for this season.
However, this would be the only high point in the following few weeks. Their next task was to take and defend their 2-1 lead to the Nou Camp, but they could not replicate the amazing form they showed just two weeks before that saw them beat the Catalans. In a game where Arsenal barely touched the ball, even before van Persie's controversial red card, they were probably lucky to only lose 3-1.
So in the space of a week and a half four chances had become two, and an FA Cup quarterfinal at Old Trafford was next on the agenda. Again Arsenal came up short, United ran out 2-0 winners thus booking their place in the semis, whilst keeping their own hopes of another treble alive. All this leaving Wenger and co wondering where it had all gone wrong and with just the hope of beating United to the Premiership crown.
With all the cup games and the international break, league games have been few and far between. Of those that have been, Arsenal have only managed disappointing draws to Sunderland, West Brom and Blackburn in their last three outings, leaving them seven points adrift of the league leaders.
But all hope is not lost. If Arsène can revive his men and remind them that there is still something to play for, something that can end their trophy-less run, then that gap can be closed. The Gunners have a game in hand over United, plus Alex Ferguson's side still have to visit the Emirates which could prove to be a massive game come May 1st, and the perfect stage for revenge on Arsenal's part.
Still, in what can only be described as a disastrous few weeks for Arsenal, many must be left wondering how it all went wrong so quickly? How quadruple dreams could turn to an almost baron season (again) in such a short space of time? As one of England's biggest clubs, six seasons without silverware is really unacceptable.
With Wenger making the same old excuses and promises like 'It is a young squad and we will come back bigger and stronger next season', you have to ask yourself how much more time does he have to turn things back around and bring back the glory days of their 2002-03 double winning season (and of course the unbeaten 'Invincibles' a year later).
With more and more teams getting stronger and competing with the big guns, including rivals Tottenham Hotspur, thing are not getting any easier. He is undoubtedly a great manager with a great squad of players, but their just seems to be something not quite good enough about the present day Arsenal, something that keeps making them just fall short of Europe's elite. Whilst the Premiership title is still in their sights, a reverse in fortune and a solid end to the season could see all of that change and end the drought that has now become an embarrassing label for the North London side.
(ED: I was at the latest Arsenal game with Blackburn Rovers and there was a worrying lack of cutting edge. Wenger’s way is still trusted, but he can no longer ignore the situation as it is. Arsenal should really be cruising to the title by now, and just three new players would have achieved that this season. A new keeper, centre-back and striker are increasingly vital. Not the likes of Chamakh or Koscielny, but world-class ones that can be taken seriously)