MISSION IMPOSSIBLE<\/p>\n
Given their near misses in recent seasons, it is entirely understandable that most sentient Arsenal fans are not prepared to publicly entertain the notion that their team will almost certainly win the Premier League this season. While they\u2019re all lying in bed at night secretly fantasising about Martin \u00d8degaard\u2019s trophy lift, most remain too scarred by ridicule over perceived \u201cbottle jobs\u201d to confidently state that as far as the title is concerned, nothing can possibly go wrong. While they have gladly accepted Mikel Arteta\u2019s invitation to jump on the fun boat<\/a>, all are wearing life preservers. Quite what these same Arsenal fans make of various pundits blithely weighing up their chances of winning an unprecedented quadruple is anyone\u2019s guess, but since they booked their place in the Fizzy Cup final<\/a>, the external chatter has begun. Having won the square root of eff all in over five years, assorted experts are seriously suggesting Arsenal \u2013 Arsenal! \u2013 could win four shiny pots in the next four months.<\/p>\n While achieving such a feat is not out of the question, it is almost certainly out of the question. Yes, Arsenal are clear at the top of the table but they have recent form in the field of Devon Loching that particular marathon with the finish line in sight. And while it\u2019s true Arsenal were imperious in Bigger Cup group stage, so were Liverpool last season and look how unstuck they came at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. Should they overcome Wigan in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Arsenal will still have to win another four matches to lift the famous old trophy, all of them against teams who will be better than the plucky northerners. And yes, they may have booked a Wembley date in March after seeing off a Chelsea side who approached the second leg of their Fizzy Cup semi-final with all the vim and vigour of a sloth on duvet day, but they will still have to overcome one of two tournament specialists if they are to tick off the first and least prestigious leg of a prospective clean sweep.<\/p>\n As Arsenal themselves have proved repeatedly in recent years, winning any football tournament is really, really difficult. Winning four in one season has thus far proved impossible for any English team in history, let alone one whose mental fortitude in the face of even the slightest adversity is often questioned. They could do it but historic precedent dictates they almost certainly won\u2019t do it and as long as they don\u2019t come up short in the quest for that first elusive league title in over two decades, few if any of their fans will be particularly bothered. \u201cI think the crowd was brilliant today,\u201d whooped Arteta following last night\u2019s win. \u201cThey brought so much energy and belief to the team in different moments. It was very much needed and I think we all deserve to be together in Wembley. They were great and it wasn\u2019t easy today because it was a late kick-off, windy, rainy, cold and they responded. The energy was very good from the beginning. I sensed it was different. They are on board.\u201d The Arsenal fun boat is on course but expect no end of nervous chundering over the port and starboard sides between now and the end of the season.<\/p>\n LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE<\/p>\n Join Scott Murray for red-hot updates on Manchester City 1-1 Newcastle (3-1 agg) in their Milk Cup semi-final second leg.<\/p>\n QUOTE OF THE DAY<\/p>\n \u201cNever in the history of humanity have we had the info in front of our eyes more clearly than now. The genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened all around the world \u2013 in Sudan, everywhere. What happened in front of us? Do you want to see it? It\u2019s our problem as human beings\u201d \u2013 Pep Guardiola speaks out<\/a> against wars across the world, including in Palestine, Ukraine and in Sudan, where a paramilitary group backed by the United Arab Emirates, Manchester City\u2019s effective owners, is embroiled in a civil war that has cost more than 150,000 lives.<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola speaks onstage at the Concert-Manifesto x Palestine at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. Photograph: Gisela Jan\u00e9\/Getty Images<\/p>\n I have to feel sorry for the Ipswich fans who made plans to visit Fratton Park last night with the game being called off for the second time (frozen pitch previously, now waterlogged). Not sure how we are going to stop the next rearrangement if it doesn\u2019t suit our knack-list but I hear floodlights do lose power sometimes\u201d \u2013 Ben North (and no other devious Pompey fans).<\/p>\n No disrespect to anyone \u2013 least of all Matt Atkinson \u2013 but comparing Timo Werner to the Yorkshire Stakhanovite that is James Milner (Monday\u2019s Football Daily letters<\/a>) is like comparing a pony to a thoroughbred\u201d \u2013 Kev McCready.<\/p>\n If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com<\/a>. Today\u2019s prizeless letter o\u2019 the day winner is \u2026 Kev McCready. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here<\/a>.\u200a<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED LISTENING<\/p>\n