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Who has the deepest squad in the Premier League?

In a Premier League season increasingly shaped by injuries, rotation and congested schedules, what happens when the first choices are unavailable can be incredibly important.

Published: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at 7:00 AM
Who has the deepest squad in the Premier League?
Key Things to Know
  • Sky Sports ranked Arsenal top of the Premier League in overall squad depth and competitive depth.
  • Arsenal's named substitutes average a league-high £367m in market value, retaining 92% value in a second XI.
  • Manchester United under Michael Carrick have allocated over 88% of league minutes strictly to core starters.
The Story in 60 Seconds

A Sky Sports analysis comparing squad depth across all 20 Premier League clubs ranked Arsenal first in both the Overall Squad Depth Index and Competitive Depth Index. Mikel Arteta's squad boasts an average substitute market value of £367m, retaining roughly 92 percent of their first XI's value when completely rotated. The study examined player values, rotation rates, bench impacts, and positional cover using Opta and Transfermarkt data.

The analysis noted specific squad strengths and vulnerabilities across the league. While Arsenal's bench leads in raw substitute goal involvements, the Gunners show thin cover on the left wing following departures. Meanwhile, Manchester United heavily rely on their core XI under Michael Carrick, Manchester City suffer a steep valuation drop-off without Erling Haaland, and Chelsea possess the division's most valuable group of young players.

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