Arsenal fans dare to dream as quadruple becomes realistic possibility

Arsenal supporters are beginning to believe something truly special could be on the horizon as the club remains in contention for an unprecedented quadruple this season.

The Gunners currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and have successfully navigated their way into the Champions League quarter-finals after defeating Bayer Leverkusen. They face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final this Sunday at Wembley Stadium, while also remaining in the FA Cup ahead of their quarter-final tie against Southampton on April 4.

According to Football London, statisticians are backing Arsenal’s chances across multiple competitions. Opta gives the north London side a 78 per cent chance of progressing to the Champions League semi-finals, with a 32 per cent chance of lifting the trophy.

The reality of the quadruple challenge

For the Premier League title, Arsenal hold a commanding position with Opta rating their chances at 97.6 per cent. The club arguably needs just four wins, two draws and can afford one defeat from their remaining seven league fixtures to secure their first title in 22 years.

However, history suggests the quadruple remains an almost impossible task. Manchester United’s famous 1999 treble saw them win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League but fall in the League Cup quarter-finals to Tottenham. Manchester City achieved the treble in 2023, marking only the tenth time in European history that any team has managed such a sweep.

The fixture congestion poses Arsenal’s biggest challenge. Sandwiched between their Champions League quarter-final ties against Sporting CP, Arteta’s side must navigate an FA Cup quarter-final where squad rotation seems inevitable, plus a Premier League clash with Bournemouth on April 11.

Squad depth could prove crucial

Arsenal’s substantial squad depth may prove decisive in their multi-competition pursuit. The emergence of players like Eberechi Eze, who has shown strong statistical performance in May since joining from Crystal Palace, could provide vital contributions during the season’s crucial final weeks.

The cautionary tale of Arsenal’s 1980 campaign looms large, when the club pursued multiple trophies only to end the season exhausted and empty-handed, losing both the FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup finals.

Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City represents Arteta’s first opportunity to add silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2020. Opta gives Arsenal a 63 per cent chance of success at Wembley, where the manager could take his first significant step toward achieving the impossible.