Arsenal won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup exactly once, defeating Parma 1-0 in Copenhagen on 4 May 1994 with a goal by Alan Smith — and the competition itself ceased to exist before the club could challenge for it again. The trophy remains both a landmark in Arsenal’s history and a reminder of a European era that shut down almost as quickly as it opened.

Arsenal’s Cup Winners’ Cup titles: 1 (1994) · Final opponent: Parma · Winning goal scorer: Alan Smith · Final score: 1-0 · Stadium: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen · Attendance: 33,765

The table below consolidates the core facts surrounding Arsenal’s lone Cup Winners’ Cup victory.

Has Arsenal won the cup winners cup?

Yes — exactly once. Arsenal claimed the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1993-94 season, defeating Parma 1-0 in the final held at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on 4 May 1994. The match drew an attendance of 33,765, with Alan Smith scoring the decisive goal in the 20th minute.

Parma entered the final as defending champions, having won the competition the previous year. Arsenal’s triumph marked their first major European trophy since the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 — a gap of 24 years. The club became the fourth London side to win the Cup Winners’ Cup, joining Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Chelsea.

What was the score in the 1994 final?

Arsenal won 1-0. Smith’s first-half volley proved the winner in a match dominated by George Graham’s defensive tactics. The Arsenal back line, widely regarded as the peak of Graham’s era, kept Parma’s attacking talent quiet throughout.

Who scored for Arsenal?

Alan Smith converted the only goal of the match. UEFA later described his volley against Parma as the strike that clinched a 1-0 success for Arsenal in Copenhagen. The goal arrived in the 20th minute and proved sufficient.

Why was the Cup Winners Cup abolished?

The UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup was discontinued after the 1998-99 season. The competition was absorbed into the UEFA Cup, which itself was rebranded as the Europa League in 2009. Several factors drove the decision.

The expansion of the Champions League reduced the number of domestic cup winners qualifying for the Cup Winners’ Cup, weakening the competition’s prestige. Fewer elite clubs participated, and the scheduling burden on clubs already playing in multiple competitions became untenable.

When was the Cup Winners’ Cup discontinued?

The 1998-99 season was the final edition. Lazio won that last tournament, defeating Mallorca 2-1 in the final held at Villa Park, Birmingham. After that, the Cup Winners’ Cup slot in European football’s calendar was absorbed by the expanded UEFA Cup structure.

Which competition replaced it?

The UEFA Cup took over the Cup Winners’ Cup’s function for most domestic cup winners. It was renamed the UEFA Europa League starting in 2009. Today, the Europa League serves as European football’s third-tier club competition, below the Champions League and above the now-defunct Intertoto Cup.

Who won the Cup Winners Cup in 1994 1995?

Arsenal won the 1993-94 edition. The following season, Real Zaragoza claimed the trophy by defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the 1995 final held in Saint-Denis, Paris. This meant Arsenal lost the Cup Winners’ Cup final in consecutive years.

Who won the 1993-94 Cup Winners’ Cup?

Arsenal. The Gunners progressed through rounds against Odense, Standard Liège, Torino and Paris Saint-Germain before facing Parma in the Copenhagen final. Smith’s goal secured the trophy.

Who won the 1994-95 Cup Winners’ Cup?

Real Zaragoza of Spain. The club beat Arsenal 2-1 in the final, with Nayim scoring the winning goal against his former club. The match is infamous for its dramatic finish — Nayim’s late strike came after Arsenal had dominated much of the game.

Which cup did Arsenal win in 1970?

Arsenal won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970, defeating Anderlecht in the final over two legs. This competition is considered a precursor to the UEFA Cup and ultimately the Europa League — it is not the same as the Cup Winners’ Cup.

What was the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup?

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup ran from 1955 to 1971, predating official UEFA recognition. It was originally a competition for cities rather than clubs, and clubs qualified by participating in trade fairs. UEFA took it over in 1971, renaming it the UEFA Cup (now Europa League).

How is it related to the UEFA Cup?

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup is the direct ancestor of the UEFA Cup, which itself became the Europa League in 2009. It sits entirely outside the Cup Winners’ Cup lineage. Arsenal’s 1970 win and 1994 win represent two distinct branches of European club competition history.

Does the cup winners cup exist?

No. The UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup no longer exists. It was last played in the 1998-99 season and was subsequently abolished. The trophy and competition history are still recognised and listed in UEFA’s official records, but no successor competition carries the Cup Winners’ Cup name.

When was the last Cup Winners’ Cup held?

The 1998-99 season was the final edition. Lazio won that tournament, defeating Mallorca 2-1 in the final at Villa Park, Birmingham. The match marked the end of a competition that had run since 1960.

Has any competition replaced it?

The UEFA Cup absorbed the Cup Winners’ Cup’s slot in European qualification. It was rebranded as the Europa League in 2009. However, the Cup Winners’ Cup’s specific identity — a dedicated competition for domestic cup winners — was not preserved. Instead, cup winners now enter the Europa League directly alongside high-finishing league teams.

The timeline below tracks the key milestones from Arsenal’s earlier European achievement through the competition’s dissolution.

Clarity: What we know and what we don’t

Most facts surrounding Arsenal’s Cup Winners’ Cup history are well-documented and consistent across sources.

Quotes and perspectives

Alan Smith’s first-half volley secured a 1-0 win over Parma in the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. The goal — described by UEFA as the strike that clinched a 1-0 success for Arsenal — remains one of the most significant moments in the club’s European history.

Arsenal YouTube – Classic highlights

Arsenal’s Cup Winners’ Cup win over Parma earned them the right to meet AC Milan in the Super Cup. The Gunners drew 0-0 at Highbury on 1 February 1995 before losing 2-0 in Milan, with goals by Zvonimir Boban and Daniele Massaro.

UEFA Super Cup historical records

Summary

The Cup Winners’ Cup is gone, but Arsenal’s 1994 win remains carved into the club’s history. Smith’s goal in Copenhagen sealed the only major European trophy the Gunners have won since 1970 — and the competition itself vanished before they could repeat the feat. The abolition reshaped European qualification entirely: domestic cup winners no longer have a dedicated tournament, instead competing for Europa League places alongside league finishers. For Arsenal, the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup is both a milestone and a reminder of a European era that closed almost as quickly as it opened.

Arsenal’s lone European trophy in the 1990s was the Cup Winners’ Cup, and their encounters with PSG trace that era in the Arsenal vs PSG timeline.

Frequently asked questions