Steve McManaman has backed Arsenal to secure an impressive double this season but miss out on one huge trophy.
The Gunners still have aspirations of clinching an unprecedented quadruple heading into the business end of the season.
Mikel Arteta’s side are the clear favourites to win the Premier League having opened up a seven-point lead over Manchester City with eight games remaining.
Man City do have a game in hand and a home match against Arsenal to close the gap but the Gunners are still expected to win their first league title since 2004.
Arsenal’s first chance to lift some silverware this season will come later this month when they face Pep Guardiola’s City in the Carabao Cup final.
The north London side are also threatening to go deep in the FA Cup having advanced to the quarter-final stage with a narrow win over Mansfield Town on Saturday.
On top of the three domestic competitions, Arsenal are also one of the favourites to win the Champions League after a flawless group campaign.
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Arteta’s side face Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 stage and, if successful, will meet Sporting or Bodo-Glimt for a place in the semi-finals.
That represents a favourable draw for Arsenal but the Champions League is the one trophy McManaman cannot see the Gunners winning this season.
The Liverpool legend and ex-England midfielder is backing Arsenal to win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years and one of the domestic cups, but cannot see a Champions League trophy following.
‘I think Arsenal will win two trophies this season – the league and a domestic cup,’ he said on TNT Sports after Arsenal’s quadruple hopes continued in the FA Cup.
Despite making progress with their Premier League title bid and FA Cup run, Arsenal have not been in scintillating form of late.
Arsenal’s style of play was criticised by some pundits after the 1-0 win over Brighton last week and Arteta’s side then only beat League One strugglers Mansfield Town by one goal.
But Joe Cole does not expect Arsenal’s somewhat underwhelming form to harm their Champions League chances and has in fact backed them to win the competition for the first time.
‘Every team that has won it for the last ten years is on one side: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, so it has opened up for Arsenal,’ he said on The Dressing Room Podcast.
‘I think, personally, it’s going to be an Arsenal versus Manchester City final. I think it will be an epic. I look at it, my only bet would be Arsenal going to the final.
‘I’m not sure on the other side, with Manchester City you still don’t know because there’s too many good teams.
‘Arsenal get to the final. They’re going to beat Bayer Leverkusen, they ain’t no cop [good], Sporting or Bodo/Glimt…
‘In summery, the Champions League draw, they’ve opened it up, someone has rolled it across the goal for Arsenal. They cannot blow it… or can they?
‘Arsenal fans, book your tickets for Budapest, in my opinion.’
The Gunners face Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday night before another crucial Premier League clash at home to Everton at the weekend.
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