Arsenal Star Drops Bombshell, Boldly Says What Everyone Was Thinking

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino remained firmly convinced that the Gunners could "absolutely" claim the Quadruple, declaring an ambitious target at an extraordinarily early point in the campaign — a statement that adds pressure rather than relief to himself and his fellow players.

Merino's self-assurance had been fueled by a comfortable 3–0 Champions League victory over Lille on Tuesday evening. Despite once again struggling through the first hour of play, Arsenal secured three points to bring their tally to nine wins from 10 matches across all competitions so far this season.

Since their defeat to Inter Milan at San Siro in November 2024, Arsenal have gone on to win their next 14 league phase matches in the competition, laying the groundwork for a semifinal run in 2025 that ultimately ended in defeat at last summer's final. "It's an incredible run," Merino told Sky Sports. "We know we're writing history in this competition.

"At the same time, we're fully aware of how hard it is to win matches. We hold a great deal of pride and respect within the squad for what we've been achieving.

Merino was pressed on the possibility of Arsenal becoming the first English club in the sport's history to capture all four major trophies within a single season. There was no hesitation. "Absolutely," he fired back.

"That's the mindset. That's the goal. We came so, so close last season and that showed us we're capable of it. Now it comes down to the details, staying focused and being ready when it matters most. And we truly believe that."

Arsenal's Quest for the Impossible

Some moments choose you. pic.twitter.com/Af3TAI7X5X

No club has ever simultaneously won England's top-flight title, Europe's premier club competition, the FA Cup, and the League Cup since the latter tournament was introduced in 1960. Yet many have been bold enough to suggest they could.

Arsenal themselves fell into this trap as recently as last season, when William Saliba openly declared his desire to win all four trophies. The centre-back at least had the sense to hold off until December before targeting the near-impossible. The Gunners' pursuit lasted until March before a defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup brought those dreams to an abrupt end.

Closest English Clubs to the Quadruple

Celtic accomplished the feat in Scottish football, sweeping up five trophies during a remarkable 1966–67 season under the guidance of Jock Stein. For clubs outside the British Isles, the absence of a second domestic cup makes such a feat structurally impossible — though this often benefits their national sides, as players arrive for international duty less fatigued than their English counterparts.

Arsenal's Illusion of Depth Will Have to Materialize to Match Merino's Ambitions

It is no accident that the only clubs to have kept their quadruple hopes alive into April have all done so in the 21st century, with most of those attempts coming within the last five years, as financial dominance became increasingly concentrated among a handful of elite clubs capable of vastly outspending the rest.

The starting lineup that Davide Ancelotti fielded against Arsenal on Tuesday for a Lille side currently sitting second in Ligue 1 was valued by FotMob at $159 million (£120 million). Arsenal's substitutes bench alone exceeded $460 million in value.

For well over a year, the conversation around the Gunners has centered on the club's supposedly unmatched squad depth. The talent assembled in north London is undeniably formidable, and having a $100 million midfielder available from the bench certainly helps — as Bruno Guimarães demonstrated against Leeds United at the weekend.

Even the typically cautious Arteta has been willing to acknowledge this. "The deeper the squad we have, the better," he said at the start of the season. But he was quick to add a caveat. "We have to manage that."

Arsenal were unconvincing against their financially outmatched opponents under the Champions League floodlights, only breaking the deadlock through a moment of individual brilliance from Jurriën Timber after the hour mark. It was only when Arteta called upon his first-choice reinforcements — sparing a struggling Viktor Gyökeres from further discomfort — that the Gunners finally pulled clear of Lille.

If they are to even keep this ambitious quadruple dream alive into the spring, Arteta's much-vaunted depth will need to start justifying the considerable hype surrounding it.