Manchester United and Chelsea’s squad depth? Yesterday’s news. Citeh’s riches? A future threat for another day.

Squads are what win you the league, and it’s these three clubs that are usually the first to be rolled out when talking about beefy player collectives eyeing up the Premier League trophy with greedy, beady eyes.

If football was only played with 5 players on the pitch, and maybe a goalie, Arsenal would win the league at least every alternate year. Such is the strength in depth the side has in its attacking quarters that they can rotate players almost carelessly and still pose a major threat at goal.

The confidence starts waning when you venture to the backline, however.

Although leaking a few goals on the break, the consensus surrounding our centrebacks is generally “pretty bloody fantastic”.

Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas have formed a partnership of slick understanding in an unorthodox fashion, in that they’ve improved Arsenal’s defensive nous in the air, and in attack, are a definite threat.

But after that, it’s the long-term layoff Djourou, Swiss double-heading-sensation Senderos, and the mighty Silvestre (spot the sarcasm!)

I’ll say this much – if Vermaelen, Song and Gallas stay fit for the majority of the season (Song all of it, given his imminent African Cup O’ Nations duties), Arsenal will win something this season. Be it a cup, a league, or a Champions League, they will win something.

But that’s asking a serious lot. Arsenal’s injury histories are well known to most, and probability dictates the niggles are bound to hit one of those three.

But it’s the strength of character of all three of those, plus bit-part fill-ins like Emmanuel Eboue, that makes me believe immensely in this side.

Gallas, Song and Eboue all came back from very stroppy periods where not a single fan believed in them, or at least held huge reservations – and now they’re seen as either essential elements of the side, displaying terrific form, or excellent squad players. It’s a good sign.

Arsene Wenger himself hailed Gallas’ performances as the mark of a professional, saying:

“It can happen that any player has highs and lows in his career but I must say his form now is a consequence of the way he behaves every day. He behaves 100 per cent as a professional and is highly focused in training.”

It marks a terrific comeback from the ex-captain, who really is playing like a leader now. Maybe it was Toure’s departure, maybe it was Thomas’ arrival…maybe he just cleared his head. Whatever he’s doing, it’s going great guns so far.

It’s rather strange – sure, he’s an ex-Chelsea lad, but whenever he scores those goofy but amazingly-timed goals for us, there’s something about him that is really likeable. He’s part-warrior, part-heart-on-sleeve, part-brooding-Gaul. So many parts in that complex individual.

But I’ll close this off with the faintest of admissions that I’m really, really taking a shining to the guy.

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Filed under: Arsenal, Blogging, English Premier League