The best an English team has managed is the treble, with Manchester City and Manchester United completing the feat, but this season, Arsenal will want to go a step further.
Arsenal and Man City’s quadruple chase has made history, as both sides are still challenging for four pieces of silverware in March.
For the Gunners, the real must-win is the Premier League title, but dreams of a quadruple season cannot be suppressed.
Agree or disagree, winning the Champions League but NOT the Premier League would not be enough this season
Mikel Arteta would enter uncharted territory by winning a quadruple, but with regard to the treble, he has two blueprints to take inspiration from: Man City’s 2022/23 season and Man United in 1998/99.
I’ve analysed both of those campaigns, and the evidence is telling.
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How Arsenal’s quadruple dream stands up against Man United and Man City’s treble wins
There’s a lot of talk about Arsenal’s easy draws in the cup competitions.
The discourse is not entirely accurate, as every knockout clash is tough, but it has to be said, when looking at the obstacles Man City and Man United overcame, Arsenal really have a chance to win it all.
I’ll talk you through each cup competition and compare the runs City and United had compared to what Arsenal have/are likely to have going forward.
Looking at these runs, are you confident that Arsenal can become a treble/quadruple winning side this season?
Champions League
United’s run to the 1999 Champions League final was incredibly tough, facing Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Man City’s was ‘simpler’ on paper, but still tricky, as the Champions League always is.
Pep Guardiola’s side’s route to European glory was RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and then Inter in the final.
Looking at Arsenal’s possible route to the final, things look, dare I say…simpler.
It’s Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16, one of Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP in the quarters and Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the semis.
FA Cup
Moving on to the FA Cup, and again, the outlook is bright.
Arsenal are one game from Wembley, having beaten Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic and Mansfield Town, with Southampton to face in the quarter-finals.
How do you feel about facing Southampton away, Gooners?
Man United’s 98/99 FA Cup run was tougher, facing: Middlesbrough, Fulham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle United.
The same applies to Man City, who had: Chelsea, Arsenal, Bristol City, Burnley, Sheffield United and Man United.
League Cup
Neither Man United nor Man City won the League Cup in their treble wins, but Arsenal can, being in the final against Man City.
Still, their runs in the competition before being eliminated were still comparable to Arsenal’s this season.
United had Bury, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, while City had Chelsea, Liverpool and Southampton.
How many trophies will Arsenal win in the 2025/26 season?
Can Arsenal win the quadruple?
It’s easy to sit and analyse the fixtures and note that Arsenal are in a genuinely strong position to go all the way and win the quadruple, but football isn’t that simple.
There will be stumbling blocks, but up to now, the Gunners haven’t shown any signs of one, having won every game outside of the Premier League thus far.
It’s a superb opportunity for Arsenal, who need to win major silverware one way or the other.
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