It seemed unthinkable a month ago, but could Arsenal now finish the season empty-handed?

A few weeks ago, Arsenal were being tipped by some to win an unprecedented quadruple.

But having lost the Carabao Cup final, been dumped out of the FA Cup and lost vital ground in the title race, there are now genuine fears they could end up with nothing - again.

Here, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall questions Mikel Arteta’s side ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter-final second leg with Sporting CP.

A season that promised so much

Arsenal, let it be remembered, have failed to win a trophy in each of the past five seasons.

They have consistently fallen short under Arteta during his 6½ year reign.

Their only silverware since the Spaniard was appointed in December 2019 was the FA Cup in 2019-20 during the Covid pandemic.

The Gunners have finished Premier League runners-up in the past three seasons and grown accustomed to being the bridesmaid rather than the bride.

But their form for much of this term has encouraged hopes they can go all the way and land the club’s first Premier League title since 2003-04.

Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Martin Zubimendi arrived last summer to bolster an already formidable squad.

Arsenal have set the pace at the top of the table since the autumn, going 18 games unbeaten in all competitions between September and early December.

They also progressed serenely in the Champions League, becoming the only side to win all eight games in the league phase to reach the knockout stages with consummate ease.

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Wembley dream descends into a waking nightmare

The Carabao Cup final against Manchester City last month was supposed to herald the start of a new era at Arsenal.

Lift the first trophy of the season, get that monkey off your back, and march towards a potential glorious unprecedented quadruple.

At least that was the plan, but Arteta’s side barely turned up as City ran out convincing 2-0 winners at Wembley.

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They followed that dismal display with a shock 2-1 defeat at Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Although the Gunners returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory at Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final six days ago, they lost at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

With Pep Guardiola’s City winning 3-0 at Chelsea the following day, Arsenal’s lead at the Premier League summit has been cut to just six points.

City have a game in hand and, crucially, host Arteta’s faltering side at the Etihad on Sunday in a game that will have a huge bearing on where the title ends up.

City are motoring and showing some ominous signs of their old selves, whereas Arsenal are wobbling alarmingly and struggling for confidence after three defeats in their last four games.

The Bournemouth defeat was arguably their worst performance and darkest moment of the season so far.

Arteta called it “a  big punch in the face.” That felt about right.

Why have things started to unravel so badly?

Arsenal’s cause has not been helped by injuries to key players Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori.

All four missed the Bournemouth defeat, but have opponents found a way to combat their style of play?

The Gunners this season have been all about suffocating teams through control, on pinning the opposition back and scoring from set-pieces.

Bournemouth, managed by Arteta's childhood team-mate from San Sebastian, Andoni Iraola, outwitted the Gunners on Saturday and Arsenal simply had no answer.

There was also conflict between the style adopted by Arteta and the style demanded from Gunners fans who wanted greater intensity going forward.

As the midway point in the first half approached, Arsenal trailed and the home faithful made their displeasure known about passes going sideways and backwards.

Arteta turned to the fans behind him in the stands and pleaded for calm.

But at the final whistle, the impatience had turned to anger as the Gunners were booed off after slipping to a hugely damaging defeat.

Now attention turns to the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final at home to Sporting CP, with Arteta’s side holding a  slender1-0 advantage.

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Gunners must rediscover their sparkle, and fast

Arsenal have never reached the Champions League semi-finals two seasons running, but that prospect is in sight ahead of Sporting’s visit on Wednesday.

Surely they have enough about them to reach the last four of Europe’s premier competition, but whether or not they can go all the way is another matter entirely.

Arsenal have never lifted the European Cup or Champions League and are arguably the biggest club in that unwanted category.

If, as expected, they progress past Sporting, then they will face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the semi-final with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool and PSG on the other side of the draw.

On Saturday looked anything but Champions League – or Premier League – winners in waiting, but there is no doubting the quality in Arteta’s squad.

They need to stop the rot and restore belief by beating Sporting comfortably on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s huge trip to the Etihad.

Two positive results in both games could yet have Arsenal fans dreaming of double glory at home and in Europe.

On the other hand, two more bad results would leave Arteta staring at the dismal prospect of finishing the season empty-handed.

For a team and manager who have promised so much, that would be simply unacceptable.

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