Squad Analysis 2026/27

[DanDare]

Squad Analysis Thread 2026/27

Goal Keepers
David Raya is top. I struggle to care about backup keepers. People will reference how Kepa's mistakes almost let City back into the title race but what could have happened would have been a mentality wobble and that's not down to the backup keepers.

Defence
The big worry for this season. Everyone's seen how we are without Saliba. Up to Arteta and the team to find a way to play that gains stability and replaces his ball playing. We've lost a defender in MLS so think we need to buy one, more if we sell someone like White. Timber might be in and out all season...

Midfield
We've added one of the best CMs in the PL to an already great group. Excited to see how MLS develops. How will Arteta juggle Ødegaard, Merino, Eze and Nwaneri (assuming he stays)? Seems like maybe one too many

Forwards
Not good enough. The area for improvement over this season and the next. We must by another LW before the window shuts. My preference would be to replace Havertz, Martinelli and Madueke by the end of next summer.

Kids
Dowman will be the star of the season. Sky is the limit. Salmon looks class but he's too young to play much at CB.

 

[Clrnc]

No support for this thread? Strange



Our squad is really too big but yet have two huge clear weak positions

 

[Trilly]

No support for this thread? Strange

View attachment 50694

Our squad is really too big but yet have two huge clear weak positions

This is why if not for Saliba’s injury the ideal signing would have been a non-injury prone version of Livramento.

Less said about LW the better.

 

[Clrnc]

This is why if not for Saliba’s injury the ideal signing would have been a non-injury prone version of Livramento.

Less said about LW the better.

We should have just signed Palestra or Kayode. Would have made perfect sense

 

[MikelHadADream]

I’ve got stocks in Ødegaard, Kai and Calafiori this season.

It’s fitness related with them, but if they go injury free they’re going to be some of our best performers.

 

[MauveGunner]

It has been said in the Match thread a couple of times too by several users and myself but I really hope the 3 of Ødegaard, Saka and White can stay fit this season. Those 3 has such a good connection with eachother and when they start to ball out it's such a joy to see.

 

[DanDare]

So looks like we aren't making any more additions.

Squad looks good to run it back in the PL and CL. Think we can get to the CL semis at least. If we meet PSG, City, Real or Barca there then I'd say it's a 50-50 to reach the final. Same again (50/50) in the final.

Happy to not sign a mediocre LW and utilise Eze there. Maybe we do something in January.

 

[MauveGunner]

So looks like we aren't making any more additions.

Squad looks good to run it back in the PL and CL. Think we can get to the CL semis at least. If we meet PSG, City, Real or Barca there then I'd say it's a 50-50 to reach the final. Same again (50/50) in the final.

Happy to not sign a mediocre LW and utilise Eze there. Maybe we do something in January.

I do think the left wing will become a problem over time. I just hope Arteta will be more flexible for the striker position. Havertz seem to be the best fit for the tactics, but I hope he has a back-up plan for when Gyokeres is our main striker.

 

[MartiSaka]

So looks like we aren't making any more additions.

Squad looks good to run it back in the PL and CL. Think we can get to the CL semis at least. If we meet PSG, City, Real or Barca there then I'd say it's a 50-50 to reach the final. Same again (50/50) in the final.

Happy to not sign a mediocre LW and utilise Eze there. Maybe we do something in January.

If we think prices are crazy now, wait till January to see the prices. Players won't be letting go there first team players, unless there is some opportunistic player vs club rift to exploit.

 

[Artemis]

This is an objectively bad transfer market. I don't see how that's debatable at this point. Our attacking depth is weaker than it was last season. It was incredibly dumb to get rid of both Martinelli & Trossard, when one of them would have been a solid rotation player.

Yes, we look much more solid defensively, but our pain point last season was in attack and we haven't improved in depth there.

The fact that the club was chasing Vinicius and then chasing Alvarez is proof that Arteta realised the weakness of our attack. So nobody can argue that management is content with our attack.

We really have to get Alvarez over the line or else we can't get the CL. At best, we'll retain the PL (which would still be an excellent achievement, I'm not trying to downplay that).

At the moment, best case scenario is that we match last season's achievement.

 

[OnlyOne]

On paper, this is still an absolutely ridiculous squad. It wasn’t a good window but seeing it laid out I’m glad we didn’t sign any crap just to sign.

Just pray the injury Gods are kind to us this season.

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

-Last season, we often had just four fully fit forwards available: Martinelli, Trossard, Gyökeres and Madueke.

-The midfield was also missing Ødegaard and Merino for significant periods.

-Now Havertz, Saka, Ødegaard and Merino are all back, fit and performing.

-Eze has fully adapted to Arteta’s system, while Tzolis should be a real weapon against the lower-level sides.

-Merino has shown he can start at CF on merit when needed, even if Havertz remains the first-choice option.

-The emergence of MLS, combined with Bruno’s arrival, should reduce the burden on Rice. Zubimendi can also perform at an elite level when he isn’t being asked to play multiple 90-minute matches every week.

-Konsa gives us an outstanding option at both RB and RCB, while Salmon provides excellent depth at LCB.

-Max can contribute 300–500 high-level minutes across the season.

-And finally, the sports science, fitness and conditioning staff who oversaw last season’s constant injury problems have been replaced.

 

[Sanchez11]

Just get Ødegaard up the pitch, we need him to attack. Were one player short squad wise.

 

[Clrnc]

Squad Depth across all top 6.

I would rank the squads this way

GK: Arsenal>City>Liverpool>Chelsea>Utd>Tottenham

CB: Arsenal>City>the other 4 pretty evenly crap

FB: Arsenal>Chelsea>Liverpool>City>Tottenham>Utd

CM: Arsenal>City>Tottenham>Chelsea>Liverpool>Utd

AM/W: City>Chelsea>Liverpool>Arsenal>Utd>Tottenham

ST: City>Liverpool>Chelsea>Arsenal>Utd>Tottenham

 

[TakeChillPill]

We're still Favourites for the title, but the champions league will be an issue. Especially since we've lost martinelli's pace which has been vital in cup competitions.

I think we can't understand estimate the signing of Bruno. Imagine if we had his forward passing in th CL final, we would've definitely gotten out of the PSG press. He's going to be vital in Europe.

I really hope we can sign a top attacker in Jan particularly for Europe.

 

[Entropics]

No support for this thread? Strange

View attachment 50694

Our squad is really too big but yet have two huge clear weak positions

We need another LCB urgently

 

[dashsnow17]

So I’m a few pints in, so to be glass half full what I’d say is that we have an excess of central midfielders: Rice, Bruno, Ødegaard, MLS, Zubi, Merino, Eze.

If we had bought another LW, then one of those above players is probably playing a lot less than their quality deserves. Merino for example is a quality player but also sort of 3rd choice CF and 3rd choice CM.

So by not signing another LW, and playing Eze more at LW, we’re forced to use more of our central midfielders, which could be a good thing, cos they’re all very good in their own ways.

We do lack pace though to run in behind, that’s what we’ve lost with Martinelli and no replacement.

 

[dashsnow17]

Including Dowman, we have a 24 man squad. If you have a bit of luck with injuries, that should be okay.

I really hope they make the sensible decision to ease off on the domestic competitions and play more academy players in those games. Management of first team minutes has got to be better this year.

 

[Sanchez11]

Eze, Ødegaard, kai and Noni need to step up. Simple as.

 

[Nunowoolmez]

I noticed that a lot of our first team squad are entering the last two years of their contracts this season.

Raya, Kepa, White, Timber, Rice, Merino, Ødegaard, & Havertz' contracts are all up end of next season.

I hope the club are working on new deals for Raya & Rice especially, but it's difficult to say on players like Timber, Ode, & Havertz. You feel like you need Ode & Havertz to have really good seasons & for Timber to be able to sustain his fitness. *(All three are Teta favourites tho, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were all renewed).

Am inclined to think the club won't renew Kepa or White, & will probably look to sell next summer.

With Merino it's a difficult one. He's severely underrated & a quality player, but is possibly another the club might look to offload as he'll be 32 come the end of his contract I think.

Lots for the club to think about anyway...