Saliba issues Arsenal with historic Quadruple challenge after Palace triumph

Arsenal and France defender William Saliba claims the Gunners are capable of becoming the first team to win all four trophies after reaching the Carabao Cup semi-finals

William Saliba has claimed Arsenal can end their long wait for silverware in style by winning a historic Quadruple this season. But the France defender insisted: “We have to start winning trophies now.”

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and celebrated Christmas by reaching the Carabao Cup last four. The Gunners will face Chelsea in a two-legged semi-final after visiting Portsmouth in the FA Cup third round on January 11.

The North London side have led the Premier League on December 25 three times in the last four years without winning a first title since 2004. And the 2020 FA Cup remains their last trophy.

But after another summer of big spending, Saliba said they are aiming to end their trophy drought with a deluge of silverware in 2026. No team has ever won the Quadruple.

“We know that in every competition we play we know we can win it,” said Saliba. “We have been close in the Premier League in the past three seasons and last season we were in the semi-finals of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup so we know that we can win every competition. But we have to show that on the pitch and we have to start winning trophies now.

“The mood is good but we know that we are still in December and things can happen quickly in football so we have to stay focussed and keep believing in ourselves and keep working because what matters is at the end when we are holding the trophies and not before.”

Arsenal last won the League Cup in 1992-93 and have now reached the semi-finals three times in the last five seasons, including losing to 4-0 on aggregate to Newcastle in the last campaign. They returned to the last four by knocking out FA Cup holders Crystal Palace 8-7 on penalties. “Of course, every competition we want to win it, and we now know that we are in the semi-finals so there are three games left for us, and we have to do the job in January against Chelsea,” Saliba said.

“It will be a big game, a big derby, so we have to keep going. We know that we are close and we have to learn the lesson from last season.

“At the end it is one trophy, and at the end of your career we count our trophies, and the Carabao Cup is one of them – and now we are in the semi-final and of course we want to win this competition, like every competition that we play.”

The Gunners will play three games a week until mid February but Saliba added: “Yes, if we have a lot of games, it means we are doing a good job so we have to keep going and hopefully the players that are injured will be back in January to help us and we are good, we are in every competition now, so we have to keep going.”

Arsenal have benefitted from three own goals while winning the last three games in unconvincing style. Viktor Gyokeres netted a penalty at Everton after James O’Brien’s mad handball and the Gunners needed spot kicks to see off Palace after the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Manager Mikel Arteta, whose side host Brighton on Saturday, said: “You have to win in different situations and contexts. We had two very difficult games, we managed to beat them. Again, the margins should have been bigger, and that's something that we have to improve on and be better at.

“But as well, credit to the boys that every three days they are performing at the level that they are doing.”