Arsenal and Manchester City remain alive in the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League — both can still complete an English-style Quadruple. The EFL Cup final at Wembley on 22 March could be pivotal. Betting note: if both progress in the FA Cup, expect odds to shorten on title/Champions League outrights; punters might favour single-match bets on the EFL Cup or cautious accumulators linking each club’s continued progress.
Arsenal and Manchester City in Rare Quadruple Hunt
For the first time, two English clubs head into March still alive on all four major fronts: the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Champions League. Arsenal and Manchester City are each chasing an unprecedented English-style Quadruple, with an EFL Cup final between them set to take place at Wembley on 22 March — a potential early decider in what promises to be a season-defining sprint.
Fixtures That Will Shape the Campaign
Arsenal travel to League One side Mansfield in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, while Manchester City face a tough trip to Newcastle United.
If both progress, the Wembley showpiece later this month gains extra weight as a bellwether for which side can sustain form across all competitions.
The Champions League draw means the two Premier League leaders can only meet in May’s final, raising the stakes across Europe and domestically. The teams also meet at the Etihad on 19 April — a match with the potential to swing the title race.
Historical Context: Who Has Ever Done It?
Only Celtic’s 1966–67 Lisbon Lions are recognised for a full domestic-and-European sweep that mirrors a Quadruple. English clubs have come close across different eras, but the full set of four major trophies remains elusive.
Notable near-misses
- Manchester United (1998–99) and Manchester City (2022–23) both completed trebles but were already out of the League Cup by midseason, eliminating the chance of a four-trophy haul.
- Liverpool’s 2021–22 campaign felt the closest timewise: two domestic cups secured, the league lost by a single point on the final day, and the Champions League lost to Real Madrid six days later.
- Chelsea have also flirted with four-trophy seasons on multiple occasions, finishing strongly domestically yet falling short in European competition or League Cup ties.
- Other English near-misses include Manchester United in 2008–09, whose cup exits and European defeat left them short of the Quadruple.
Why a Quadruple Is Rare in Europe
A straight comparison with continental clubs is complicated by the absence or abolition of league cups across many nations.
France ended the Coupe de la Ligue in 2020; Spain’s Copa de la Liga was short-lived; Germany’s Ligapokal was scrapped in 2007; and Italy never organised an equivalent. Including one-off supercup trophies or the Uefa Super Cup expands who can claim four trophies, but it dilutes the specific English notion of a Quadruple.
Even so, Bayern Munich (2012–13) and Paris Saint-Germain in certain seasons have claimed impressive four-trophy hauls when different definitions are applied.
Recent Continental Examples and COVID Disruption
Paris Saint-Germain’s 2019–20 season under Thomas Tuchel produced multiple domestic trophies, but the Champions League final — delayed to August because of the pandemic — was lost to Bayern Munich, denying a more comprehensive sweep. Across Europe, dominant clubs have often amassed multiple honours but not the exact four-trophy combination English fans envisage.
What This Means for the Run-in
With both Arsenal and City still in contention across all fronts, their mid-March EFL Cup final takes on heightened significance. Momentum from a Wembley win could propel the victor into the final months with a psychological edge. The league meeting at the Etihad in April doubles as a possible title decider and a barometer for which side is likeliest to maintain a Quadruple push.
Betting Implications and Market Moves
Should both clubs win their FA Cup ties, bookmakers are likely to shorten odds on season-long outrights involving title or Champions League success. The EFL Cup final between the two is a high-profile single-game market that will attract heavy betting interest and could signal form for later bets. Punters considering longer-term accumulators should weigh squad rotation and fixture congestion; single-match stakes on cup outcomes or cautious outrights on either club remain the cleaner way to exploit the current dynamics.
Conclusion: "Squeaky Bum Time" Beckons
This campaign edges into the classic late-season pressure Sir Alex Ferguson dubbed “squeaky bum time.” With key dates looming — Wembley on 22 March and the Etihad showdown on 19 April — the coming weeks will reveal which side has the depth, resilience and form to challenge for footballing history.
Arsenal step aside for Man Utd to launch raid for ‘predestined talent’
With Arsenal and Manchester City still in the running for four trophies, BBC Sport looks at who else has come close to doing the Quadruple.
The Bbc
