Ranked: Who has the best squad depth among the Premier League’s elite after Thierry Henry gave his verdict – with Liverpool boasting THREE top players in the same position and Chelsea spoilt for choice in attack

After Arsenal’s typically rock solid performance and win over Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday evening, Thierry Henry claimed the Gunners have the best depth in the Champions League. 

The legendary former striker believes the time for Mikel Arteta to deliver silverware has to be now.

He told CBS: ‘Right now, I will say that nobody has a team as deep as Arsenal. It’s a must to win something this year. You cannot go back and talk about injuries, no more excuses, you have to bring something.’

So, is Henry correct? The bumper summer transfer window has strengthened the back-up positions at every English club fighting on multiple fronts. 

Liverpool boast both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in attack, Chelsea have a huge number of quality wingers on the books and even Tottenham are already calling on their back-ups amid a host of injuries. Here, Daily Mail Sport ranks the second XIs of each English side in the Champions League to see which club is best equipped to deal with the rigors of a European campaign. 

*Players with long term injuries expected to be absent most of the season have been excluded

NEWCASTLE 

Rank – 6th  

The Magpies quietly strengthened in the summer transfer window under the shadow of the Alexander Isak saga. 

When everyone is fit, you would imagine a front three of £65million Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga will lead the attack with the established trio of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in behind. 

That leaves places in the second XI for new signings Jacob Ramsey and Yoan Wissa, though both are injured at the moment. 

Aaron Ramsdale is an able deputy in goal, while Lewis Hall is a superb option at left-back, though Tino Livramento has started the season on that side with Kieran Trippier holding down the right-back berth. 

Malick Thiaw, the £34m addition from AC Milan is currently a back-up but could yet force his way into the starting XI. 

Dan Burn has started every game so far, while Fabien Schar and Sven Botman offer strong competition. Losing the jewel in their crown in Isak will sting for the Magpies but that money could yet prove invaluable in the long term for their ambitious project. 

TOTTENHAM

Rank – 5th 

Spurs already look a far tougher nut to crack under Thomas Frank and began their European adventure with a solid 1-0 win at home against Villarreal. 

Where they are perhaps lacking strength in depth is at the back. Kevin Danso and Destiny Udogie are respectable options but Ben Davies is far from his prime and Radu Dragusin is still expected to be out for a couple of months. 

Antonin Kinsky feels unproven in goal, certainly a drop from Gugliemo Vicario’s level. 

In midfield, Archie Gray is a promising talent, while injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski mean there are scant options behind Xavi Simons in the No 10 area. 

Randal Kolo Muani is an exciting addition and can play off a striker, while the tricky dribbling of Wilson Odobert and goalscoring prowess of Brennan Johnson offers threat from the flanks. 

Johnson will no doubt be given the nod to start a number of games but may struggle to nail down a regular role given Muhammed Kudus’ strong start. 

Richarlison has also taken advantage of Dominic Solanke’s lack of fitness at the beginning of the season and either of those strikers could find themselves on the bench at various points this term.

LIVERPOOL

Rank – 4th 

It could be controversial to rank Liverpool, favourites for both the Premier League and Champions League, in fourth among English sides based on depth. 

There is no doubt the quality of Arne Slot’s starting line-up, which when everyone is fit might look something like: Alisson, Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz, Ekitike, Isak and Salah. 

Given the way he’s playing it seems unfathomable that Szoboszlai would be dropped, meaning Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong find themselves among the subs. Those are three tremendous options for one position. 

Andy Robertson is a brilliant back-up option at left-back and may even replace Kerkez as the starter. At centre-back, the unproven youngster Giovanni Leoni and injury-plagued Joe Gomez present a significant drop-off from the starting duo. 

Midfield depth is a significant area of concern, although Szoboszlai can easily shift up. At both ends of the age spectrum, Wataru Endo and Trey Nyoni provide the depth there. 

We’re yet to find out who will make way in attack when Alexander Isak is fully fit. For my money, Hugo Ekitike’s brilliant start to life on Merseyside will see him retain a place and shifted out to the left. 

That would mean Gakpo is the unfortunate absentee, though Slot may well simply rotate Ekitike and Isak as the primary striker when games come thick and fast. 

Federico Chiesa has been left out of the Champions League squad so cannot really be considered a depth option here, meaning Frimpong could shift up to right wing, where he spent plenty of time last season at Bayer Leverkusen. 

There’s plenty of talent on the Liverpool bench but the major question marks about centre-back and midfield depth have them ranked No 4.  

CHELSEA 

Rank – 3rd  

The obvious drop-off for the Blues is at centre-back, with the long-term absence of Levi Colwill hitting Enzo Maresca’s men hard in that department. 

Trevor Chalobah and one of Wesley Fofana or Tosin Adarabioyo look to be the starting combination, while it remains to be seen whether Filip Jorgensen could be a top level keeper if called upon. 

Elsewhere, however, Chelsea look very well equipped. Romeo Lavia could be an elite option if he keeps himself fit. 

Andrey Santos is incredibly highly rated and new boy Facundo Buonanotte looks another dependable option. 

It’s in attack that Maresca really has an embarrassment of riches. Perhaps his toughest job will be to keep his backlog of forwards satisfied with their playing time. 

Estevao has already shown his class and could well be given the nod ahead of Pedro Neto as the season progresses. 

Liam Delap, although currently sidelined, is a superb addition and likely to play second fiddle to Joao Pedro. 

And on the left it looks like a duel between new signings Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho. We’ve opted for Garnacho to start in the strongest XI given his Premier League experience, leaving the ex-Borussia Dortmund man to deputise. 

It would of course be no surprise whatsoever to see any of these attackers find themselves out in the cold at some point given the fierce competition for places and how well stocked Chelsea find themselves up the pitch.  

MANCHESTER CITY

Rank – 2nd  

There has been so much change at City over the last couple of years, with a real churn of players. 

But Pep Guardiola still has an elite squad at his disposal. It looks as though James Trafford will be behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in the pecking order but he will push the Italian all the way. 

Mateus Nunes isn’t a natural right-back in one area of weakness, but the experience of Nathan Ake and bright prospects in Abdukodir Khusanov and Rico Lewis mean the defence should not be a concern. 

Nico Gonzalez is the able deputy for Rodri, while Mateo Kovacic has played at the highest level for years and offers bags of experience. 

Nico O’Reilly has already earned Guardiola’s trust and is a versatile option from the bench. 

As and Fantasy Premier League players will tell you, predicting Guardiola’s attacking line-ups can be a nightmare. 

But Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku seem likely to play regularly. Perhaps Omar Marmoush would be an obvious replacement for Silva there but both give the manager a great option from the bench. 

Oscar Bobb started the season brightly and will see plenty of action and Savinho is another wide talent who could be called upon. There’s a fair bit of youth among the subs for Guardiola, which may be the only concern, but City are well stocked for a run in every competition as you’d expect.  

ARSENAL

Rank – 1st  

Thierry is right. It’s tough to find any area of weakness and the defence, in particular, would rival any in the competition even as back-ups. 

Gabriel and William Saliba are mainstays with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori currently preferred at full-back.

But the quality in reserve is extraordinary and would start for almost every other side. 

A major injury to Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi, who is already proving himself a masterful addition in midfield, would hurt the Gunners.

But the sensible addition of Christian Norgaard was necessary after Thomas Partey’s departure. 

Mikel Merino has been brilliant for the Gunners and is another option, while Ethan Nwaneri can take his chances when Martin Odegaard is out. 

The area crying out for improvement was in the front three and Arsenal addressed that need in the summer. 

Eberechi Eze appears to be the first choice left winger already, while Viktor Gyokeres is improving with every game up front. 

Bukayo Saka will start on the right when he returns from his hamstring injury but Noni Madueke has shown himself to be a great replacement for club and country in recent weeks. It would be no surprise at all to see Arsenal take centre stage at the Puskas Arena for the final next May. For Henry and supporters, anything less than a major trophy would be a real disappointment now the squad is almost without fault.