The Athletic FC Podcast Can Arsenal or Man City win the quadruple?
Mar 9, 2026
Duncan Alexander, football data analyst who breaks down probabilities and trends, and Oliver Kay, seasoned football journalist with tactical and historical insight. They debate whether Arsenal or Manchester City can pull off the rare quadruple. Short takes on squad depth, fixture congestion, tactical adaptability, historical comparisons and how luck and draws could decide this extraordinary chase.
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Quadruple Is A Long Shot Even For Favourites
- Winning all four competitions remains extremely unlikely even for favourites due to fixture congestion and injury risk.
- Oliver Kay emphasises that bookies shorten odds but a 'clean bill of health' and perfect timing are essential for a quadruple.
City's January Window Reignited Their Quadruple Hopes
- Manchester City's January recruits and subsequent signings have closed the gap, making them strong rivals across competitions.
- Oliver Kay highlights players like Kusanoff, Donna Rummer, Ryan Ait, Mark Gay and Antoine Semenio as squad-strengthening additions.
League Intensity And Fixture Rigidity Work Against A Quadruple
- Sam Lee argues neither Arsenal nor City look as dominant as past near-quadruple teams, making a clean sweep unlikely.
- He adds that the Premier League's intensity and inability to shift fixtures unlike some foreign leagues stacks the deck against English clubs.