Quadruple dreams don’t die quietly. Arsenal’s ended with a goalkeeper fumble at Wembley and a defensive collapse on the south coast, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side to regroup with two competitions still very much alive. Two defeats in a row is a rarity for this Arsenal team, and the manner of both certainly stings.
First came the Carabao Cup final. Kepa Arrizabalaga, chosen ahead of first-choice David Raya, spilled a Rayan Cherki cross in the 60th minute and gifted Nico O’Reilly a tap-in. The 21-year-old headed a second four minutes later. Arsenal hit the post and the bar in a desperate response, but Manchester City held firm to win 2-0 and deny Arsenal a first trophy since 2020.
Then less than two weeks later, Southampton, a Championship side did the unexpected at St Mary’s. They raced into a first-half lead through Ross Stewart, and withstood a Viktor Gyokeres equaliser before substitute Shea Charles broke Arsenal hearts with five minutes left to play.
How the Betting Markets Reacted After the Cup Exits
The defeats have done real damage in the outright markets. Before the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal were strong favourites to win at least a couple of trophies. Those prices are long gone. The double of Premier League and Champions League trophies now are in doubt, as the Gunners lose form in the home stretch of the season. The odds have lengthened on Arsenal winning it, with bookmakers now pricing in a team that has looked vulnerable twice in quick succession.
For anyone looking to get involved with the remaining matches, comparing football free bets from different bookmakers can provide the best value, particularly ahead of what could be a season-defining Champions League quarter-final second leg against Sporting CP.
The psychological angle matters too. Arsenal were priced as short as 1/10 to win the Premier League before the Carabao Cup final. That market hasn’t moved much, but the mood has. Punters who backed Arsenal for the double in January at bigger prices will be watching the next few weeks closely.
The Premier League Lead Is Still Very Real
Nine points. That’s the gap Arsenal currently have over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, with seven games remaining (eight for City). Opta’s numbers put them at around 97% likely to win the title. Arteta himself described the cup exits as “the first moment of difficulty this season,” which tells you something about how comfortable the league campaign has been.
City do have a game in hand, and the two sides meet at the Etihad on April 19th. That fixture could still be meaningful, but Arsenal would need to collapse spectacularly to throw this away. Even after back-to-back defeats, the league lead is a buffer that very few title challengers have managed to overturn. Bournemouth visit the Emirates next, and Arsenal will want a response quickly.
Champions League: The Bigger Prize
Sporting CP stand between Arsenal and a Champions League semi-final. The first leg in Lisbon was tense, but Arsenal still came away with a one-nil win that puts them just a bit closer to the semis.
The draw has been kind. Arsenal avoided Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the last eight, and while Sporting are no pushovers, the Gunners are a level above the Portuguese outfit in terms of squad depth and European experience. A semi-final place would feel like genuine progress for a club still waiting for their first Champions League title.
Though the concerns are nothing to scoff at. Jurrien Timber is out injured and Ben White hasn’t looked like he’s found his footing yet, after returning from an injury of his own. And with Hincapie out as well, the Gunners cannot withstand another defensive scare. Arsenal have built their season on defensive solidity, with 25 clean sheets in 49 games before the cup exits. If that back line is disrupted, it becomes a different equation in Europe.
With Barcelona, PSG and Bayern attacking like they do, the Gunners’ famous defensive line will surely be well tested, should they progress to the semis.
What the Double Realistically Looks Like Now
The most likely version of Arsenal’s season ends with them lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004. That would end a wait that has stretched across four near-misses, countless disappointments, and an entire generation of supporters.
The Champions League is harder to call. Arsenal have come close before, losing to Bayern Munich in the 2023-24 quarter-finals and to PSG in last season’s semi-finals. Right now, they look to be far from the favourites to go all the way, but it all remains to see.
The cup exits hurt. But nine points clear in the league and a Champions League quarter-final at home ahead, Arsenal still have every reason to believe this season ends with something to celebrate.