Analysis of the new Arsenal squad (The second XI is not bad either!)

Arsenal Squad Analysis by AH

After the disappointment of yesterday, we now know our final squad. In my opinion we are slightly better than last year providing that Giroud and Podolski can find their shooting boots. Arsenal made three very good signings – all who are proven in their respective leagues, however we also let two of our best players from last season leave and so in some ways we are back to square one.

The thing that concerns me is that our squad depth isn’t very good. We have quality players, but not throughout the squad. To be successful you need a good starting XI filled with quality, but you also need back up players that have the same quality. In this article I will address the squad depth and provide three starting XI’s which will represent the three teams we can make up with our squad.

These squads are made providing everyone is fit and there are no suspensions;

Arsenal’s Number 1 squad – first XI

Szczesny
Sagna—Koscienly—Vermaelen—Gibbs
Arteta—Wilshere
Cazorla
Walcott—–Giroud—–Podolski

Not a bad starting XI is it? Now what about Arsenal’s 2nd first XI;

Fabianski
Jenkinson—Mertesacker—Djourou—Santos
Diaby—Ramsey
Rosicky
Chamberlain —Chamakh—Gervinho

Again not bad, lots of different styles of play there, but you can see the squad is looking a bit thin……

Then onto the 3rd team;
Mannone
Yennaris—Squillaci—Miquel—( ?????? )
Coquelin—Frimpong
Eisfeld
Arshavin—( ?????? )— ( ?????? )

Now, as you can see the squad is now so thin that players from the reserve squad have had to come in, so it shows that there isn’t enough depth in our squad. Arshavin’s place in the squad is up for debate. But where do you put him in the 2nd team? But the blanks in the 3rd Arsenal team would probably be filled with reserve players.

The 2nd team is pretty good however you need to have better players if you want to compete with the other big clubs. Overall the squad isn’t bad, will it be enough to overcome to others and gain a top four spot? Only time will tell….

ADDITIONAL COMMENT BY THE AUTHOR (AH)

I am not trying to say that we don’t have enough players to fill three whole starting XI’s because not many teams can do that. Im trying to say that if you take an injured/suspended player out of the 1st squad and replace them with the player in the same position in the 2nd squad (which acts as the bench/reserve team for a squad in the game – because most of the players would be on the bench for a game), then the team does become considerably worse in some positions. For example Sagna being replaced by Jenkinson and Giroud being replaced by Chamakh. Then because those 2nd squad players would then be in the first squad, a 3rd team player might have to be called up to the bench (2nd squad) and you can’t have players like Squillaci or Aneke as players on the bench if you want to be competitive throughout the season. Overall what I’m trying to say is that when a first XI player is replaced, they are being replaced by someone on a much lower level, and although you expect a few average players in your squad, we really needed to get in some more better players this window after the sales on Song and Van Persie.

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