For the first time in English football history, two clubs have reached March chasing the elusive Quadruple. Arsenal and Manchester City remain active in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Crucially, the two titans will also meet in the EFL Cup final later this month. This rare alignment of stars has placed both squads on the precipice of sporting immortality.
The Gunners secured their FA Cup quarter-final berth on Saturday by defeating League One side Mansfield Town. Conversely, Manchester City progressed by overcoming Newcastle United in a high-stakes encounter. Recent European draws ensure these domestic rivals cannot meet in the Champions League until the May final. Consequently, every remaining fixture carries the weight of history for Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola.
Only one British club has ever achieved this remarkable feat. The 1966-67 Celtic side swept every competition, culminating in a European Cup victory over Inter Milan. Remarkably, that legendary squad consisted entirely of players born within 30 miles of Glasgow. Since then, English teams have frequently flirted with the achievement but ultimately fallen short.
The Narrow Margins of Previous Treble Winners
Fans often point to Manchester United in 1999 or Manchester City in 2023 as the gold standard. While both clubs secured historic Trebles, neither truly threatened the Quadruple into the final weeks. United exited the League Cup in December, while City fell in January during their recent dominant campaign. They remained fighting on three fronts, but the four-trophy dream died mid-winter.
Liverpool’s 2021-22 season represents the closest any English side has come to the ultimate haul. The Reds secured both domestic cups before the Premier League title slipped away on the final day. Six days later, Jurgen Klopp’s men suffered a narrow defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s 2007 campaign under Jose Mourinho also disintegrated during a painful ten-day period in May.
Across Europe, the lack of a secondary domestic cup makes the Quadruple an almost exclusively British concept. France abolished the Coupe de la Ligue in 2020, while Germany and Spain have long lacked equivalent competitions. Paris Saint-Germain came closest in 2020 but lost the Champions League final to Bayern Munich. Now, the 2026 season offers Arsenal and City a final chance to eclipse those nearly-men.
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