Ashley Cole Backs Arsenal for Quadruple Glory—But Warns Against Collapse

Ashley Cole, the man who famously swapped red for blue, reckons Arsenal have a genuine shot at the quadruple—but only if they don't spectacularly fall apart.

The ex-Gunners defender won the league with Arsenal back in 2003/04, then claimed another title with Chelsea in 2009/10. Since then, the Gunners have been waiting for another crack at the crown, though this season looks more promising than most.

With eight games remaining and a seven-point cushion over Manchester City—who have a game in hand—Arsenal find themselves in the driving seat. They're still battling on three other fronts: a League Cup final showdown with City looms, while the Champions League round of 16 beckons.

Speaking to Hayters TV, Cole sees no reason why the north Londoners couldn't sweep the lot. "Why not?" he said. "The players seem to have some sort of belief. The manager has a belief and slowly but surely they're winning game after game and if they can continue that form nothing is impossible."

He reckons the psychological boost of claiming one trophy could be the catalyst for the rest. "If they get the first win who knows what can happen. It breeds confidence winning a trophy," Cole explained.

The 38-year-old is particularly bullish about their league prospects. "With the consistency that Arsenal have shown, only eight games left in the season and seven points clear, it's Arsenal's to lose. The way they're finding that extra five or two per cent in games to find a way to win it's going to have to be an absolute capitulation from Arsenal to lose the league."

On Mikel Arteta's approach, Cole isn't fussed about the style, only the substance. "I'd want my team to play but ultimately it's about winning," he noted. "It's 22 years since they last won it. To position themselves above Manchester City and Liverpool and they've done that so far. Ultimately at the end of the season if Arsenal's name is on the title he's done his job."

Cole did pump the brakes on talk of Arteta joining Arsène Wenger in the pantheon of Arsenal greats. "To be compared with Arsene Wenger now is a little bit too premature. You've got to continue to win and compete and hopefully he'll get his first title over the line and build on that."