Alan Shearer believes there is one major difference between Arsenal last season and this campaign, which is contributing to their impressive form.
The Gunners sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League table after ten matches, having conceded just three goals in the process.
Many pundits are now tipping Arsenal to win the league, as their imperious defence continues to prevent teams from scoring against them.
However, aside from their relentless ability to keep clean sheets, Shearer has highlighted another thing that he thinks Mikel Arteta’s team have benefited from massively.
Alan Shearer says Arsenal’s squad depth is ‘the big difference’ for them this year
Arsenal suffered an unprecedented injury crisis last season that derailed their campaign.
To ensure a similar scenario couldn’t unfold this time around, Andrea Berta spent £250 million on eight new recruits over the summer.
The likes of Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze were all brought in, as were a number of squad players, to significantly improve the depth in Arteta’s ensemble.
Thus far, this has clearly paid dividends. The Gunners have endured several injuries already this term, but haven’t paid the price because of the options that they now have available to them.
Speaking on Premier League Productions (via Stan Sports), Shearer revealed his belief that this squad depth has been the ‘big difference’ so far this season for the North Londoners.
“Absolutely, you leave [Riccardo] Calafiori out, you bring [Myles] Lewis-Skelly in, [Martin] Odegaard is out, Zubimendi is in there,” the former Newcastle striker said.
“Madueke is out, you have [Bukayo] Saka, [Leandro] Trossard and Eze.
“Their squad depth is really impressive, you’re not bringing squad players on, it’s quality players who would get into most people’s first teams. That’s the big difference for me this year.”
A genuine injury crisis could be unfolding now for Arsenal
Last season, the Gunners certainly would’ve struggled to cope with the injuries that they’ve had so far this campaign.
That said, Arsenal now have six senior attacking players out, and this is bordering on an injury crisis, even with their level of depth.
Gyokeres, Madueke, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard are all out injured, and none of them are expected to be available for Saturday’s clash with Sunderland.
This is likely to force Arteta into deploying an unconventional front three, which is exactly what he had to do at points last season, meaning this is certainly a crisis.
Thankfully for the tactician, this crisis should be short-lived. Madueke, Havertz and Odegaard are expected back after the upcoming international break, while Martinelli and Gyokeres’ fitness issues aren’t supposed to be too significant.
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