Was Arsenal’s squad depth the main reason for title failure?

Arsenal were cruising in the title race until a few untimely injuries seem to destabilise the team.

We now know that, for all intents and purposes, Arsenal have lost the league title and gifted it to Manchester City.

All the “bottling” talk will no doubt continue as Mikel Arteta’s side played out a winless four-game run in April which handed the initiative to an imperious Citizens outfit.

While yes, City have been an unstoppable juggernaut over the last few months (12 straight wins in the league), Arsenal have somewhat been masters of their own downfall.

And part of that is one big area of concern the club had heading into the season: squad depth.

Was Arsenal’s squad depth the main reason for title failure?

While Arteta has to be lauded for moving the deadwood out of the club as players on huge wages were taking up a spot in the squad, in doing so some areas of the team were left a little thin.

But this was the right way to go, as before the season started, it was the top four that was the goal, not a title challenge.

Strength in depth is perhaps City’s most powerful weapon for longevity in a gruelling title campaign. Let’s take their last league game against Everton.

Pep Guardiola’s bench consisted of Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones. Ridiculous right?

This meant that City’s first team was “rotated” to include Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez, and Phil Foden.

Looking at Arsenal’s bench on Sunday against Brighton, the only players coming close to the calibre of City’s were Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard.

This, for many, is one big reason why Arsenal couldn’t keep pace with City in the title race.

Once William Saliba went down injured, a previously assured and confident back four looked anything but. Then Partey lost form, and Jorginho, who is a solid Premier League player, isn’t the game-changer Pep has at his disposal.

But these shortcomings were known to the club and fanbase prior to the start of the season. After getting so close to the ultimate glory, reports are swirling that Arsenal will have a significant war chest to spend this summer.

Several players in Emile Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, and Reiss Nelson have all been linked with moves away (Granit Xhaka is likely gone also). Is it paramount for the club to keep them while adding to the squad with the likes of Declan Rice?

Strength in numbers is what kept pushing City along at a stunning pace. Perhaps Arsenal could solidify its ranks without losing a host of players in the process.