Arsenal Tops Premier League Squad Depth Index, Bench Value £367m

Arsenal have the deepest squad in the Premier League, with an average substitute bench value of £367m

Arsenal top the Premier League Squad Depth Index, boasting an average bench value of £367m—the highest in the division. The Gunners also lead the Competitive Depth Index, with their second XI retaining 92 per cent of their first XI's value.

Competition: Premier League
Headline finding: Arsenal rank first in both Overall Squad Depth Index and Competitive Depth Index
Key stat: Arsenal's substitutes average £367m in market value, far exceeding any other club
Second XI value: Arsenal's second XI is worth £536m, retaining 92% of the first XI's £580m
Substitute output: Arsenal's squad have 27 goals and assists from 4,340 substitute minutes since start of last season
Rotation trust: Arsenal and Man City players ranked 12th-22nd have accounted for around 15 per cent of league minutes

The numbers

Average market value of Arsenal's named substitutes in Premier League matches this season: £367m
No other club comes particularly close to Arsenal's bench value.
Premier League clubs typically paid 36 per cent above Transfermarkt valuations this summer.
Adjusted for that, Arsenal's £367m bench value becomes closer to £500m.
Promoted sides Hull, Coventry and Ipswich have the lowest average bench value.
Brentford sit just outside the traditional 'big six' with an average bench value of £129m.
Arsenal's current squad have combined for 27 goals and assists from 4,340 substitute minutes since the start of last season.
Adjusted rate: around 0.54 goal involvements per 90 for Arsenal substitutes.
Arsenal rank behind only Brighton for goal involvements per 90 from substitutes.
Arsenal's modelled first XI is valued at £580m; their second XI at £536m—retaining roughly 92 per cent.
Manchester City's second XI is worth £428.2m less than their first XI.
Aston Villa and Hull have a second XI more valuable than their usage-based first XI.
Tottenham have distributed a comparatively high share of league minutes beyond their core XI.
Man Utd's core accounts for more than 88 per cent of their minutes—trumped only by Bournemouth and Everton.
Arsenal and Man City's players ranked 12th-22nd have accounted for around 15 per cent of their minutes.
Chelsea have the most valuable group of young first-team players: seven aged 21 or under worth a combined £229.5m.
Manchester City rank second for young player value at £190.9m, followed by Brighton (£179.1m), Manchester United (£177.1m) and Bournemouth (£159.5m).
Of those five, only Brighton (1st) and Man Utd (5th) rank in the top five for minutes played by young players.
Man City's young group have played only 257 minutes; Arsenal's two young first-team players worth £72.7m have accumulated 282 minutes.
Leeds' young players have a solitary minute.
Everton rank 20th for centre-forward depth with a score of 36.1.
Aston Villa rank above the Premier League champions for pure Squad Depth Score.
Arsenal are severely lacking at left-wing after selling Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Liverpool are even worse off on the opposite flank since the sale of Mohamed Salah.
The worst positions for quality and cover are in the attacking midfield departments of Brighton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle.

Why Arsenal's depth stands out

Arsenal's summer transfer strategy focused on increasing depth. While the club explored blockbuster moves for Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez, they instead added Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa to a back four and midfield already stacked with talent. Those additions have complemented a squad that Mikel Arteta had to navigate through a large injury list last season.

The value of Arsenal's bench is unprecedented. Their substitutes average £367m in market value—a figure that, when adjusted for the typical 36 per cent premium Premier League clubs paid above Transfermarkt valuations this summer, rises to nearly £500m. No other club comes close. Even Brentford, who sit just outside the big six with a £129m bench, are dwarfed.

Market value alone does not guarantee impact, but Arsenal's substitutes have delivered. Since the start of last season, their current squad have contributed 27 goals and assists from 4,340 substitute minutes, an adjusted rate of 0.54 goal involvements per 90. Only Brighton rank higher on a per-90 basis, while Arsenal lead the raw total.

Rotation: trust in the squad

Having depth is one thing; using it is another. Arsenal and Manchester City have given around 15 per cent of league minutes to players ranked 12th-22nd in their squads. That indicates Arteta is willing to rotate, though not excessively.

By contrast, Manchester United's core accounts for more than 88 per cent of their minutes—only Bournemouth and Everton rely more heavily on their first-choice players. Tottenham have distributed a comparatively high share of minutes beyond their core XI, perhaps because Roberto De Zerbi is still determining his strongest team.

Second XI value and weaknesses

Arsenal's modelled first XI is valued at £580m, while their second XI is worth £536m—a retention rate of 92 per cent. That is a remarkable level of quality in reserve. Manchester City's second XI, by comparison, is worth £428.2m less than their first, largely due to the drop-off when Erling Haaland is absent.

Aston Villa and Hull are the only clubs whose second XI is more valuable than their usage-based first XI, reflecting late transfer activity. Meanwhile, even the best squads have gaps. Arsenal are severely lacking at left-wing after selling Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Liverpool are worse off on the opposite flank following Mohamed Salah's sale.

The worst positions for quality and cover across the division are in the attacking midfield departments of Brighton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle, though those clubs tend to play without a recognisable number 10. Everton rank 20th for centre-forward depth with a score of 36.1 after their failed move for Folarin Balogun.

Talking points

Arsenal's bench value of £367m is astronomical, but does it guarantee trophies? Arteta must convert depth into silverware.
Manchester United's reliance on their core XI (88% of minutes) is a risk. Carrick's reluctance to rotate could cost them later.
Chelsea have the most valuable young talent (£229.5m), but only Brighton and Man Utd give youth meaningful minutes. Is Chelsea wasting its academy?
Liverpool's lack of depth on the right wing after Salah's sale is alarming. They are one injury away from a crisis.

What happens next

Arsenal face a demanding schedule after the international break, and their squad depth will be tested. The Gunners must prove that their expensive bench can deliver results when rotated. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Manchester City will need to trust their alternatives more if they are to cope with the congested fixture list. The coming weeks will reveal which managers truly believe in their squads.