Big discussion: Summer transfer period is closed, Premier League is a five-week game, and mirror football writers will give enough time to assess the depth of their teams from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City
Jamie Carrager put the card on the table before Arsenal faces Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
“I think Arsenal has the best team in the country,” Karager said confidently of Sky Sports. “Remember (Martin) Odegard, (Kai) Herberts, and (Gabriel) Jesus were injured. That bench is as good as the team on the pitch.”
Arsenal needed a 93rd minute equalizer from substitute Gabriel Martinelli and scored points in a 1-1 draw against City in a match that didn’t fully strengthen Calager’s points. Mikel Arteta was able to sign Ebechi Eze from his bench in the return of Bukayo Saka and a £67.5 million summer, but they were unable to blow Pep Guardiola’s deep set defense.
As a result, Liverpool sat cleanly, leaving Arsenal and Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table after beating Everton 2-1 in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday. Arne Slot’s side began the season with six straight wins in all competitions, bolstered by an unprecedented £450 million splurge over the summer transfer period.
There’s a finish line at the end of the 2025/26 season, and there’s still a long way to go before the team’s depth is the key to success. So which Premier League side has the best equipment to go far? We asked the Miller Football writer to implement the rules on top of the team to see if they agree with Karager’s claim.
read more: When Man UTD’s issues attacked again hours before the match, Marcus Rashford stopped by Barcelonaread more: Jamie Carrager’s “never won” comparison of Arsenal with Liverpool
Jeremy Cross
Arsenal has the greatest strength in depth when considering the team from the back forward. This is what it should be for a club with designs that will win the title.
But this only puts more pressure on manager Mikel Arteta when it comes to finishing the long waiting period for Arsenal’s British champions. And while Arteta may have the most choices in terms of choice, I recommend that Liverpool’s counterpart Arne Slot has the most quality.
Liverpool’s forward line is unparalleled at the moment, with the slots having a better midfielder than Arsenal.
James Whaling
I’ll get Jamie Karager right. But that won’t become an Arsenal title favourite. And yesterday I gave an accurate explanation of why.
After becoming bridesmaids over the past few seasons, Arsenal’s summer addition should be enough to make them brides. Viktor Gyoker should be missing the title-winning jigsawpa, but it was great business to nick Ebe Kieze from under Tottenham’s nose for the 11-hour period.
However, the gunners are still too careful with their setup and it must fall on Mikel Arteta. Because of the amount of creativity they have on the pitch, they simply don’t build enough opportunities in open play.
Manchester City was absolutely there for a dose at Emirates. It was on the city side, barely recognised because they were reluctant to control ownership and dominate it in a big game. However, Arsenal was not brave enough to kill them and was lucky enough to ultimately not succumb to the ultimate smash and grab victory.
Arsenal went to Anfield 0-0 and was reverted to Dominique Sobosilai’s magical moment. Liverpool has already shown in the first few weeks why they hold their title, whether or not their team is the best on paper.
John Cross
There’s no even discussion about this. Liverpool has a much stronger team in every respect. It’s a delusion to try to suggest that it is Arsenal. Manchester City is probably even stronger than Arsenal. why? Because they have know-how and experience. However, Liverpool is the same as before.
Taking into consideration Alexander Isaac and Florian Wiltz, there was about £300 million worth of talent on the bench of the Merseyside Derby on Saturday. My best last season was better. What’s more, this is not just the price tag, but who spent what. They prove the quality and players that know what it needs.
That’s why even if Liverpool looks a bit lighter with the central defensive cover of Virgil van Dyke and Ibrahima Conate, they make up for it with players who know what they need to get their team on the line. They also have a competition. They signed Wirtz and we’re all thinking: Where does Dominik Szoboszlai play? He definitely plays everywhere. From right to number 10 to midfield, until he worked as a team. He has been the best player in the Premier League ever this season. He embraced the competition and raised his level.
That’s why we have the best team in Liverpool. And they win the title on the streets.
Tom Victor
There is a saying that teams win a one-off game, but teams win a league title. And there’s arguing that this has prevented Arsenal from overcoming the line. Last season, they were unable to shake off the lack of offensive depth in the second half of the campaign, but defensive injuries made a difference in 2023.
Despite catching up to this point, there is a debate that Manchester City has the best team, but two busy windows mean that important adaptation is needed. It could be a case of whether they are still in touch by the time everything is clicked – in fact, if it clicks.
But the fact that we are having this conversation tells its own story. Over the past few years, City would have been considered far apart based on their ability to stockpile talent and satisfy players despite a few minutes shortage.
This year has been close, with Liverpool running with Hugo Ekicchique and Arsenal looking early positive from many new signatures. City is still driving it, but if Pep Guardiola doesn’t let his magic work as he’s done over the years, it’s counting for a bit.
Amy Wilson
For anyone with the best team this season, I think it’s a close relationship between Arsenal and Liverpool, but the latter just takes the crown. The summer of spending at Anfield means that now there is an array of attack options, even if Alexander Isaac is not added on the deadline day. Arne Slot’s concern is the depth he has at centre back. There was a reason the club made the move for Mark Guech.
But even if that deal breaks down, I still feel that the offensive players from the slot team are ahead of Arsenal. In the middle, Ryan Gravenberch has proven to be one of the Premier League standouts this season, with him in front of Alexis Mac Alistair and Dominique Zobosilai.
At that moment, it is Hugo Ekitique who can provide the goal and even spin him along with Isaac, and play him, and will scare most defenders they oppose. If Liverpool returns to Guehi during the January transfer period, they will not be able to see the team’s weakness area.
Sammead
A lot is made with Arsenal’s stellar team for summer recruitment, but Liverpool isn’t too late. After all, the Reds spent over £400 million to make their players pool look impressive.
Gunners can boast a lot of quality, but one thing that depends on many of those players is that they haven’t gotten past the line yet. quality? yes. A victory experience? A box that still needs to be checked.
That’s why I think Liverpool’s team is probably impressive, if not bound by it. Perhaps the gunner may be bordered in terms of depth. However, this series of players at Anfield knows how to win a title, and even the titles they signed, such as Florian Wiltz and Alexander Isaac, claiming the trophy on their previous teams.
Jennifer Brown
With the constant termination of players at Stamford Bridge and extraordinary money spent, Chelsea should have the highest team depth in the Premier League. However, the Club World Cup champions have fallen significantly in key positions. The best team this season is Arsenal, the Blues’ North London neighbour.
The overall focus of their transfer window seemed to ultimately be to ensure a dramatic push for strikers and Viktor Gyoker to make it happen. But amidst the gust of briefs surrounding it, Gunner made many wise signs that were already rewarded after early injuries to Bukayo Saka and William Saliba. The £13 million from Christian Mosquera looks like a bargain, and Christian Norgaard is the perfect addition to covering the departure of Gorginho. Over the summer they ultimately addressed the issue. Not only their new Big Man Up Top, but also with Ebebekieze and Noni Madueke. It would be difficult for anyone to find obvious weaknesses in their current team. Now it’s up to Mikel Arteta to make the most of his players to go from Premier League understudy to the show’s star.
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