Arsenal’s squad depth is ruining the “most exciting footballer in England”

Arsenal are top of the Premier League and still compete in all three cup competitions. That’s an impressive body of work, especially considering the number of injuries they’ve suffered so far in 2025/26.

Up top, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres all spent some spells injured. Although all three are now back, another option in that role, in the form of Mikel Merino, is now also absent.

It’s the story of Arsenal’s season, frankly. As soon as one player comes back, another gets injured. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are also missing, which only adds to the problems.

Fortunately, their squad depth is perhaps the greatest since Mikel Arteta took charge. That’s what pushes the Gunners into what could be a cash-laden campaign in May.

That said, while some have thrived on increased competition, others have faltered.

How renewed depth has impacted Arsenal’s squad

Competition for places at the Emirates Stadium has never been stronger. Over the summer, Andrea Berta and Co spent a lot of money improving the team and making it as bulletproof as possible for the campaign.

Last season it was arguably their lack of depth that was their downfall, with injuries at the top of the pitch having a disastrous impact on their ability to compete.

With Jesus and Havertz missing, Merino was the trusted number 9. However, when they missed Saka due to a hamstring injury, they struggled to cope.

This term was quite different. Saka could well be injured again, but Noni Madueke has ensured that Arteta has been able to rest his key man in numerous matches throughout the season.

Competition in the final third has generally led to better performances. Gyokeres, Jesus and Havertz are all fighting valiantly for a place in attack. The quality of the options is remarkable.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes will always be first choice, but new signings in the form of Piero Hincapie and Cristian Mosquera have stepped up admirably as the main duo suffered through injury. It’s a long way from the days when, in case of injury, Rob Holding was the reserve man.

That said, it hasn’t been positive for everyone at the club, far from it. Such depth hurt many, including full-backs Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who only played 1,000 minutes each. That’s weak compared to most of the team’s defenders.

Lewis-Skelly could well have benefited from a loan move at the end of the campaign to boost his World Cup hopes. He has only started one Premier League game in 2025/26 and his chances of making Thomas Tuchel’s team in America appear slim.

The teen isn’t the only Hale Ender to face increased competition.

How Arsenal squad depth impacted Ethan Nwaneri

Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri burst onto the scene last season with some aplomb. It was Nwaneri who took the field at the age of 15 in 2022, subsequently becoming the youngest player in Premier League history.

However, it was the former that ended up having the biggest impact. He became a regular full-back during the second half of the 2024/25 season, playing both matches against Real Madrid and PSG in the Champions League, while also scoring against Manchester City and making his international debut.

The teenager even scored on his debut for England. How times change, eh? Lewis-Skelly is unlikely to be on the plane in a few months.

Nwaneri’s dream of an international call-up also seems far-fetched at the moment, although he was the talk of the town at Arsenal last season.

With Saka injured, the 18-year-old rose to prominence on the right flank, putting in some Saka-like performances, scoring nine goals in all competitions. He was electric, notably hailed by Joe Cole as “the most exciting talent in England and perhaps Europe”.

In fairness, there is still a lot of buzz about Nwaneri’s potential, but he has been very hampered this season.

With Madueke and Eberechi Eze signed for big money last summer, it meant the English talent struggled to find a place in the team. While Nwaneri featured more on the right during his breakthrough campaign, it is in the middle of the park where Arteta sees him long term.

As a result, with Odegaard, Eze and Havertz all competing for a spot in that role, Nwaneri wouldn’t be expected to earn many minutes. The same can be said on the right; he never got past Saka and Madueke.

Such misfortune means that, given his age, his minutes were not prioritized. He has only played 165 minutes in the Premier League during the current campaign, failing to start a single league match.

For this reason he needed playing time, that was undeniable. Arteta sent him to Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille where he has had a roller coaster ride so far.

Everything seemed to be going according to plan when the youngster scored on his Ligue 1 debut, but since then it has been rather difficult for him to assert his authority.

There may be excitement about Nwaneri, but his development has slowed and his last two performances in France demonstrate that. He narrowly avoided a red card after a late challenge in Marseille’s Coupe de France clash with Rennes while he has now been substituted at half-time in each of his last two outings.

This doesn’t bode well, but it’s important to remember that youth is on his side. He has already played 51 times for Arsenal’s senior team and he will only turn 19 at the end of March.

It takes perseverance and patience. If he still struggles to make an impact in 2026/27, it might be time to worry.

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