## Arsenal's Squad Depth Tested at Anfield: New Signings Offer Hope Amidst Injuries **News Title:** Liverpool a test of depth for Arsenal but Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke ease Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard worry **Publisher:** Sky Sports **Author:** Nick Wright **Date:** August 28, 2025 (article published) This Sky Sports report, authored by Nick Wright, analyzes Arsenal's squad situation ahead of their upcoming match against Liverpool at Anfield. The primary focus is on how the team's significantly improved squad depth, bolstered by substantial summer investment, will be tested by potential injuries to key attacking players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz. ### Key Findings and Conclusions: * **Transformation in Squad Depth:** Arsenal's bench composition has dramatically changed since their last visit to Anfield (a 2-2 draw in May). The previous bench featured players with minimal Premier League minutes, many of whom have since departed. The current squad offers significantly more credible options. * **Impact of New Signings:** The article highlights the impact of new signings, particularly Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke, in addressing Arsenal's previous lack of depth. These additions are expected to provide creativity, flair, ball-carrying ability, and versatility, easing concerns about key player absences. * **Anfield as a Test Case:** The match at Anfield is presented as an early test of Arsenal's increased depth, with new signings likely to play a crucial role in navigating potential injuries to Saka, Odegaard, and Havertz, as well as the long-term absence of Gabriel Jesus. * **Strategic Investment:** Arsenal's summer spending of **£267 million** is a testament to their comprehensive investment in strengthening all departments, with a particular focus on enhancing attacking options. ### Key Statistics and Metrics: * **Previous Bench Situation:** In the May draw at Anfield, six of Arsenal's nine substitutes had played fewer than **1,000 minutes** combined in the Premier League that season. * **Summer Spending:** Arsenal's total spending this summer has reached **£267 million**, with the arrival of Eberechi Eze accounting for **£67.5 million**. * **New Signings:** Eze is Arsenal's seventh signing of the window, joining Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, and Viktor Gyokeres. * **Impact on Win Rate (Saka):** Arsenal's Premier League win rate drops significantly when Bukayo Saka does not start, and their scoring rate is even more affected. * **Martinelli's Record vs. Liverpool:** Gabriel Martinelli has scored **four goals in his last six appearances** against Liverpool, including a goal in the previous 2-2 draw at Anfield. * **Trossard's Anfield Hat-trick:** Leandro Trossard is one of only three opposition players to score a hat-trick at Anfield in the Premier League, achieving this for Brighton in a 3-3 draw in January 2022. * **Eze's Anfield Goal:** Eberechi Eze scored the winning goal in Crystal Palace's 1-0 victory at Anfield in April 2024. * **Nwaneri's Passing Accuracy:** Ethan Nwaneri completed all **26 of his passes** in his first-half introduction against Leeds. * **Sky Sports Premier League Coverage:** Sky Sports will show at least **215 live Premier League games** this season, an increase from 128, with 80% of all televised games being live on Sky Sports. ### Potential Line-up and Tactical Considerations: * **Attacking Options:** With potential absences of Saka, Havertz, and Odegaard, Arsenal now have a pool of forwards including Eze, Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, and Max Dowman. * **Eze's Role:** Eze, who excelled as a No. 10 at Crystal Palace, is seen as a potential replacement for Odegaard. * **Madueke's Role:** Madueke could fill Saka's position on the right flank. * **Midfield Options:** Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice provide defensive cover. Gary Neville suggests Mikel Arteta might opt for Mikel Merino over Ethan Nwaneri in midfield to add physicality, especially given the demands of playing at Anfield. * **Transition Play:** Gyokeres, Madueke, and Eze are noted for their ability to attack space on transitions, a strength also possessed by Gabriel Martinelli. ### Notable Risks or Concerns: * **Impact of Key Absences:** Despite the improved depth, the absence of players like Saka, Odegaard, and Havertz is still acknowledged as "far from ideal." Saka, in particular, is highlighted as being "vitally important." * **Anfield's Challenge:** The article emphasizes that Anfield remains a difficult venue, and the potential absence of key players will provide an "early test" of the squad's resilience. ### Material Financial Data: * **Total Summer Spending:** £267 million * **Eberechi Eze Transfer Fee:** £67.5 million In essence, Arsenal's significant summer investment has transformed their squad depth, providing Mikel Arteta with more options to contend with potential injuries. The upcoming match at Anfield will be a crucial indicator of how effectively these new additions can mitigate the absence of key players and maintain the team's performance level.
Liverpool a test of depth for Arsenal but Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke ease Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard worry
Read original at Sky Sports →The last time Arsenal visited Anfield, for the 2-2 draw with Liverpool in May, Mikel Arteta only needed to glance over his shoulder for a reminder of their lack of depth.In Kieran Tierney, Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Neto, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Jack Henry-Francis, six of the nine players seated on the Arsenal bench had played barely 1,000 minutes between them in the Premier League all season.
Five of the six have subsequently gone. Zinchenko may well follow before the transfer deadline. All, though, appeared regularly in Arsenal's matchday squads last term, making up the numbers as injury problems exposed a shallow pool of trusted options.Three months on, the picture looks very different.
Transfer Centre LIVE! | Arsenal news & transfers🔴⚪Arsenal fixtures & scores | FREE Arsenal PL highlights▶️Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want! 🔔Got Sky? Watch Arsenal games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerEberechi Eze was introduced to Arsenal fans at the Emirates StadiumInjuries that would have previously had fans writing off their chances at Anfield - to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz - no longer feel disastrous, such is the squad's transformation.
The investment has been comprehensive.The £67.5m arrival of Eberechi Eze took Arsenal's spending to £267m this summer. Eze is their seventh signing of the window after Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres.Also See:Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports appNot got Sky?
Get instant access with no contractWatch FREE PL highlights on the appGet Sky Sports on WhatsApp!Arteta's squad has been strengthened in all departments. But it is in attack that they hope to feel the benefits at Anfield on Sunday. DatawrapperThis content is provided by Datawrapper, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
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To view this content you can use the button below to allow Datawrapper cookies for this session only.Arsenal may have to do without Saka, Havertz and Odegaard as well as long-term absentee Gabriel Jesus. But with Eze, Madueke and Gyokeres added to a pool of forwards that also includes Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and the emerging Max Dowman, they still have enviable options."
They don't want to lose Havertz, they don't want to lose Saka, they don't want to lose Odegaard, but they have got better options behind them now," said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.Max Dowman shows why Arsenal's academy is biggest asset£2.6bn spent but where is your club stronger or weaker?Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games from this season Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerGary Neville explains how strong Arsenal can still look without Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard and picks his starting line-up for Anfield"That is what we need," added Arteta in his press conference after the 5-0 win over Leeds.
"I think the other way is not realistic to survive at the level we want for 10 months. None of the other top teams in the league do it, so why are we going to be different?"Their injuries throw up an early test of their increased depth, and their new signings are likely to play an important role in how they navigate it, with Gyokeres expected to lead the line at Anfield and Eze and Madueke providing new options in support.
The pair have added creativity, flair and ball-carrying ability, among other qualities. But they were signed for their versatility too. Madueke has already been used on both flanks by Arteta. Eze is of course comfortable centrally as well as out wide. Image:Eze demonstrated his versatility at Crystal PalaceEze's minutes were split between multiple positions at Crystal Palace but most of his best work came as a No 10.
He therefore becomes an option to replace Odegaard, if he is unavailable, with Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice ensuring defensive cover.Madueke could then take Saka's role on the right, which would allow some familiarity on the left. Martinelli was an unused substitute against Leeds but he tends to fare well against Liverpool, who have shown vulnerability on the break this season.
Image:Is this how Arsenal will line up against Liverpool?Arsenal have made a clear effort to increase their threat in those situations. Gyokeres, Madueke and Eze all excel at attacking space on transitions. But the same can be said of Martinelli, a player once described as "a talent of the century" by Jurgen Klopp.
The Brazil international has scored four goals in his last six appearances against the Reds, including the header which sparked Arsenal's comeback in the 2-2 draw in May.Martinelli was named player of the match for his display that day, making a season-high total of 41 off-the-ball runs as he repeatedly tried to exploit Liverpool's high line.
But the cross for his goal was supplied by another player with a strong record against them. Image:Gabriel Martinelli scored from a Leandro Trossard cross at Anfield last seasonIn fact, Trossard is one of only three opposition players, along with Andrey Arshavin and Peter Ndlovu, to have scored a hat-trick in a Premier League game at Anfield following his treble for former club Brighton in a 3-3 draw there in January 2022.
The Belgium international will also be pushing for inclusion having looked bright off the bench against Leeds but Eze has inflicted damage from the left flank at Anfield too, scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory for Crystal Palace in April 2024.Arteta could opt to install Eze on that side and, if Odegaard is unavailable, use Nwaneri in midfield.
Image:Mikel Arteta could opt for Ethan Nwaneri in midfield and Eberechi Eze on the leftNwaneri was predominantly used on the right flank last season, deputising for Saka during his injury absence. But his first-half introduction for Odegaard against Leeds hinted at where his future lies. He performed well, completing all 26 of his passes.
Repeating that feat in the cauldron of Anfield would be an altogether different challenge for Nwaneri but the 18-year-old provides his manager with another credible option.Alternatively, Arteta could call on Mikel Merino, who scored Arsenal's equaliser from midfield on their last visit to Anfield and might be better-equipped to deal with the physical demands of the game.
Image:Gary Neville feels Mikel Arteta would select Mikel Merino over Ethan Nwaneri at Anfield"I think he'll bring Merino in," added Neville. "What he'll do is he'll make it a lot stronger, a lot more physical. That's what I would do and I think that's what Arteta will do. He'll go with one of his more powerful players in there."
Arsenal's injuries are of course far from ideal regardless of who steps into the team. Saka, in particular, has been vitally important in recent seasons, as Arsenal's record with and without him shows.Their Premier League win rate drops significantly when the 23-year-old doesn't start, their scoring rate even more so.
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Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Datawrapper cookies.To view this content you can use the button below to allow Datawrapper cookies for this session only. But Arsenal's summer business has been geared towards precisely this, towards easing that dependence on individuals.
Madueke provides a proven, high-calibre alternative in Saka's position. There is now flexibility across the front line, as in defence and midfield.It could be argued that, in Gyokeres and Eze, only two of Arsenal's seven signings provide obvious upgrades to Arteta's starting line-up. But their depth of quality is transformed from last season.
It will be evident in the players seated over Arteta's shoulder at Anfield on Sunday as well as those on the pitch in front of him.Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games this season Starting this season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage is increasing from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games this season will be shown live on Sky Sports.
