<P> Mee complemented this attacking ability with some more experienced heads; captain Frank McLintock at centre half marshalled a strong defence, while the hard - tackling Peter Storey filled the defensive midfield position . The team showed early signs of promise, reaching two successive League Cup finals, in 1968 and 1969 . Both times the Gunners went home empty - handed . The first time Arsenal lost to Don Revie's Leeds United 1--0 in a dour match of few chances, Terry Cooper grabbing the only goal . </P> <P> The second League Cup loss was an infamous upset--Arsenal lost 3--1 to Third Division side Swindon Town . Eight of the team had been struck by flu that had led to the postponement of Arsenal's previous League fixture, and Arsenal had only reached extra time thanks to a late goalkeeping error that had allowed Bobby Gould to score . In extra time, Don Rogers scored twice as Arsenal searched for a winner . However, that season was not a total disaster for Arsenal; they had also finished fourth, which won them a place in Europe for the 1969--70 season . </P> <P> In turn, this led to the club collecting their first silverware in seventeen years and also their first European trophy, the 1969--70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup . Arsenal beat Ajax 3 - 1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, and then staged a famous comeback against Anderlecht in the final . Arsenal were 3 - 0 down after 74 minutes of the first leg at Stade Émile Versé, but Ray Kennedy got a late away goal to give the Gunners a glimmer of hope; in the second leg in front of a packed Highbury, inspired by captain Frank McLintock, Arsenal won 3 - 0 with goals from John Radford, Eddie Kelly and Jon Sammels, to win the tie 4 - 3 on aggregate . </P> <P> The same season, Arsenal had only finished 12th in the league, perhaps distracted by their European campaign, and did not look like league contenders . Yet the following season, 1970--71, Arsenal went on to become only the second club of the 20th century to win the FA Cup and League Double, the club's first . After a bright start Arsenal looked to be out of the title chase with a 5--0 loss to Stoke City in September . However, Arsenal recovered and put in a strong run (they did not lose again in the league until January), and as the season closed they became involved in a tight race with Leeds United . </P>

When was the last time arsenal won the epl