 Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Muna 2000, kaputeni weArsenal Tony Adams akakuvara, zvichikurudzira Arsene Wenger kusaina Stepanovs yemubhadharo wekuchinjisa we 1.35 miriyoni. Akatanga mwaka zvakanaka, achihwina chinangwa cheArsenal mu 2-1 League Cup kukundwa neIpswich Town paakatanga. Nguva yake yekutamba yakakura kusvika pamutambo wakanangana neManchester United, apo mativi ese ari maviri airwira zita rePremier League. Arsenal yakarasikirwa nemutambo uyu 61 uye mikana yavo yekukunda mukombe yakarohwa. Pashure pokuita uku kunosuruvarisa, Stepanovs akatamba kamwe chete zvakare mumwaka iwoyo mumutambo wakanangana neManchester City. Akapora kuti aite mitambo mitanhatu yePremier League mwaka unotevera sezvo Arsenal yakakunda 2001-02 FA Premier League. Nhanhatu dzaisazove dzakaringana kuwana menduru asi aive mutsivi asina kushandiswa pazuva iro Arsenal yakabata zita iri vachipesana neManchester United kuOld Trafford, chiitiko chechikamu chake chakaderera mwaka wapfuura. Arsenal yakakundawo FA Cup muna 2002uye 2003 asi Stepanovs akasiyiwa kunze kwemauto ose ezuva romutambo. Akabatsira mukukunda kwavo muna 2002 paakaonekwa mumutambo wakanangana neNewcastle United panguva yavo yekumhanya. 