Arsenal FC have got off to a flying start in the 2022/2023 Premier League season, currently sitting top of the league, having won five of their first six games.
They suffered a minor blip against Manchester United, losing 3-1 on 4th September.
They were trailing Manchester United deep in the second half, and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made the rash decision to make a triple substitution, which didn’t change their fortunes in the slightest.
This begs the question: will Arsenal struggle if they need to rely on their bench?
Can Arsenal rely on their bench if needed?
Arsenal FC are currently flying high at the top of the English Premier League, taking 15 points from their first six games.
Fans around the Emirates and those who are following them away – click here to find tickets – have been brimming with hope for this season.
Arsenal’s starting XI is looking solid. Although they have a few options on the bench, many people agree that Arsenal may struggle if they need to rely on their bench.
If any of the starting line-up pick up any injuries or have a dip in form and need replacing with someone from the bench, they may not fare so well.
A look at the starting XI and the bench
In the starting line-up for the fixture against Manchester United, Arteta played a 4-2-3-1, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal, Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães, and Oleksandr Zinchenko at the back, Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka in midfield, just behind Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard, and up front was Gabriel Jesus.
Arteta made a triple substitution deep in the second half when trailing to Manchester United, but they failed to make an impact.
Some of the most notable players that Arsenal may have to rely on from the bench are Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Fábio Vieira, Mohamed Elneny, Eddie Nketiah, and Emile Smith-Rowe.
For a ‘big six’ club, it’s one of the worst benches, and the club will need to do more to strengthen its bench.
Upcoming Arsenal fixtures and current odds for Arsenal to win the Premier League outright
Arsenal’s next match is Brentford away in the Premier League on Sunday followed after the international break and Tottenham at home on 1st October.
Arsenal are currently the third favourites to win the Premier League outright, behind Liverpool and Manchester City.
To win the league outright, they are priced at 10/1 or 11.00 (which is +1,000 in American/Moneyline odds).
In comparison, the favourites and current reigning champions Manchester City, are currently priced at 2/5 or 1.40 (which equates to -250) to win outright.
Featured image credit: Wonker via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY 2.0 licence
