Arsenal top the Premier League and are still in all three cup competitions. It's impressive work, particularly when you consider the number of injuries they've had in 2025/26 to date.
Up top, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres have all spent some periods of time out injured. While all three are now back, another option in that role in the form of Mikel Merino is now absent too.
That's been the story of Arsenal's season, truth be told. Once one player returns, another gets injured. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are also out absent, only adding to the problems.
Saka-Odegaard-Lewis-Skelly
Fortunately, their squad depth is perhaps the greatest it has been since Mikel Arteta took charge. It's what's driving the Gunners towards what could be a silver-laden campaign come May.
That said, while some have thrived with more competition, others have faltered.
How renewed depth has impacted the Arsenal squad
Competition for places at the Emirates Stadium has never been higher. Over the summer, Andrea Berta and Co spent a bucket load of cash on improving the squad and making it as bulletproof as possible for the campaign.
Last term, it was arguably their lack of depth that was their undoing with injuries at the top end of the pitch having a disastrous impact on their ability to compete.
With Jesus and Havertz out, Merino was the trusted number 9. However, when they missed Saka through a hamstring injury, they struggled to cope.
havertz
This term has been rather different. Saka may well be injured again but Noni Madueke has ensured that Arteta has been able to rest his key man in plenty of matches throughout the season.
Competition in the final third has driven better performance for the most part. Gyokeres, Jesus and Havertz are all competing valiantly for a place while in attack. The quality of options are 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 when the main pairing were suffering from injury. It's a far cry from the days when if injury struck, Rob Holding was the man on standby.
That said, it's not been positive for everyone at the club, far from it. Such depth has meant plenty are suffering, none less so than full-backs Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly who have only played in and around 1000 minutes apiece. That's low compared to most defenders in the squad.
Minutes played by Arsenal defenders - 2025/26
Player
Jurrien Timber
William Saliba
Gabriel Magalhaes
Riccardo Calafiori
Piero Hincapie
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Ben White
Cristian Mosquera
Marli Salmon
Lewis-Skelly might well have benefitted from a loan spell in the back end of the campaign to boost his World Cup hopes. He's started just one game in the Premier League throughout 2025/26 and his chances of making Thomas Tuchel's side in America feel slim.
The teenager isn't the only Hale Ender to struggle with increased competition.
How Arsenal's squad depth has impacted Ethan Nwaneri
Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri burst onto the scene last season with some aplomb. It was Nwaneri who took to the field as a 15-year-old back in 2022, subsequently becoming the youngest player in Premier League history.
|Arsenal's youngest debutants|
|Player|Age at debut|
|---|
|#1 Ethan Nwaneri|15 years, 5 months, 28 days|
|#2 Max Dowman|15 years, 7 months, 23 days|
|#3 Jack Porter|16 years, 2 months, 10 days|
|#4 Marli Salmon|16 years, 3 months, 11 days|
|#5 Cesc Fabregas|16 years, 5 months, 24 days|
|#6 Jack Wilshere|16 years, 8 months, 12 days|
|#7 Jermaine Pennant|16 years, 10 months, 15 days|
|#8 Paul Vaessen|16 years, 11 months, 11 days|
|#9 Ryan Smith|16 years, 11 months, 18 days|
|#10 Gedion Zelalem|16 years, 11 months, 29 days|
However, it was the former who ended up making the biggest impact. He became a regular at full-back in the second half of 2024/25, playing in both legs against Real Madrid and PSG in the Champions League, while scoring against Manchester City and earning 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 month's time.
myles lewis-skelly
Nwaneri's dream of an international call-up also look farfetched right now, despite being the talk of the town at Arsenal last season.
With Saka injured, the 18-year-old rose to stardom on the right flank, delivering some Saka-esque performances in the process, scoring nine goals in all competitions. He was electric, notably hailed by Joe Cole as "the most exciting talent in England and maybe in Europe".
In all honesty, there is still plenty of buzz about Nwaneri's potential but he's been hampered big time this season.
With Madueke and Eberechi Eze signed for big money last summer, it meant that the English talent has struggled to find a place in the side. While Nwaneri featured more off the right during his breakthrough campaign, it's in the middle of the park where Arteta sees him long-term.
nwaneri-arsenal
As a result, with Odegaard, Eze and Havertz all competing for a spot in that role, Nwaneri wasn't going to have a hope of earning many minutes. The same can be said on the right; he was never breaking past Saka and Madueke.
Such misfortune has meant that considering his age, his minutes haven't been prioritised. He has played just 165 minutes in the Premier League during the ongoing campaign, failing to start a single league match in the process.
Due to that, he needed game time, there was no denying that. Arteta sent him to Roberto De Zerbi's Marseille where he's had a rollercoaster ride so far.
Everything looked to be going according to plan when the youngster scored on his debut for the Ligue 1 side but it's been rather challenging since then for him to stamp his authority.
There may well be excitement about Nwaneri, but his development has slowed and his last two performances in France showcase 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.
Ethan-Nwaneri-Marseille
That doesn't bode too well but it's important to remember that youth is on his side. He has already played 51 times for the Arsenal senior team and he doesn't turn 19 until the back end of March.
Perseverance and patience are required. If he still struggles to make an impact in 2026/27 then perhaps that will be time to worry.
Nicolas-Pepe-Arsenal (2) Related
Arsenal star was like Pepe in his debut season, now he's their best player
It's been quite the turnaround for this big-money Arsenal player.