It has been over a month since the start of the Premier League season, and with the transfer window closed until Jan. 1, there will be no more incomings or outgoings unless a free agent (David de Gea, anyone?) can be snapped up.
As teams start to hit their stride, and the new additions from the summer become accustomed to their surroundings, it’s time to take a look at where the players stand in their respective squads.
Here’s a depth chart of the best options for the first XI and backup XI for all 20 clubs in the league. Of course, it’s hard to predict who could be called upon as the fixtures pile up, but the below should give you an idea of how strong each team is.
(Note: Each player appears in the main squad list once, even if he could fit into multiple spots. We have also included injured players, though those likely to be out for the season are noted separately.)
Raya
White – Saliba – Gabriel – Zinchenko
Rice
Ødegaard – Havertz
Saka – Jesus – Martinelli
Ramsdale
Partey – Tomiyasu – Kiwior – Cedric
Jorginho
Trossard – Vieira
Nelson – Nketiah – Smith Rowe
EXTRAS: Hein, Sousa, Elneny
LONG-TERM INJURY: Timber
Last season’s Premier League runners-up do look stronger in depth compared to last season — who would have thought Ramsdale’s place as No. 1 would be in jeopardy before the signing of Raya — but a long-term injury to new arrival Timber has made them vulnerable at the back. There is a lack of natural left-backs (after Kieran Tierney left on loan) in the squad, but that is mitigated by manager Mikel Arteta choosing to play inverted full-backs and having several versatile players who can feature across the defensive line without any real drop in quality.
In midfield, £100 million addition Rice can singlehandedly take care of the anchor role, yet Partey and Jorginho can step up if Arteta desires an extra holding presence. Though yet to convince after arriving for £65m, Havertz also allows for shuffling and positional mobility in midfield and attack, which lessens the need for more players.
That said, as much as Nketiah is on the ascent, it might transpire as the season progresses that Arsenal missed a trick by not signing another No. 9 in the summer
FIRST XI (4-4-2)
Martinez
Cash – Konsa – Torres – Moreno
McGinn – Kamara – Luiz – Ramsey
Diaby – Watkins
SECOND XI (4-4-2)
Olsen
Chambers – Diego Carlos – Lenglet – Digne
Bailey – Dendoncker – Tielemans – Zaniolo
Duran – Traore
EXTRAS: Marshall, Hause, Kellyman, Iroegbunam
LONG-TERM INJURY: Mings, Buendia
Having spent ambitiously over recent transfer windows, Villa’s squad looks particularly strong through the spine, and once key players such as Mings and Ramsey are back from injury, the side will be more settled. Given the number of central defenders he has, manager Unai Emery often switches in-game to a back three when out of possession, making it hard to define their shape.
Finding game time for the defenders and the regular composition of the midfield are intriguing issues — as well as how to use Tielemans’ attacking instinct without sacrificing one of their two regular holding players. However, the wealth of quality players through the spine is a boost, especially given that the addition of European football will see rotation required.
Any injury to Watkins up front, though, might be more of a concern to Emery. Behind the top scorer there’s only the unproven — albeit highly promising — Colombian teenager Duran to accommodate the No. 9 role.
Petrovic
Chalobah – Sarr – Badiashile
Gusto – Caicedo – Lavia – Cucurella
Palmer – Mudryk
Deivid
EXTRAS: Bergström, Maatsen, Ugochukwu, Chukwuemeka, Madueke, Broja, Matos
LONG-TERM INJURY: Fofana
Chelsea have undergone a massive squad revamp to the tune of over £1 billion over the past three transfer windows … and it shows. While some established names have departed, to be replaced by players of potential in their late teens or early 20s, the result is a pretty much a blank canvas that is going to give manager Mauricio Pochettino joy and headache in equal measure.
There’s some exceptional talent at centre-back, yet, even amid Fofana’s long-term injury, there are way too many players in competition for a first-team place. That has been complicated by 38-year-old Thiago Silva — whose leadership skills are desperately needed on the pitch — being the least droppable of them all, which inevitably will lead to some youngst
