Sutton says Arsenal’s squad depth shone again in Everton win
Chris Sutton believes Arsenal’s squad depth was the key factor behind their win over Everton, coming just days after Bukayo Saka was ruled out for an extended spell with injury.
Saka’s absence had raised concern among supporters given how influential he has been for Mikel Arteta’s side this season. His creativity and output in the final third have made him one of the first names on the teamsheet, so losing him for two months was always going to be a significant test of the squad’s resources.
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That test came quickly, with David Moyes bringing Everton to the Emirates. Moyes has a strong record against Arsenal across his managerial career, but his side could not find a way past Arteta’s team, who produced a composed display to claim the three points without their star winger.
Sutton highlights Arsenal’s options
Speaking via BBC Live, Sutton pointed to the changes Arteta was able to make despite being without Saka.
“It’s about squad depth and Arsenal have shown today changes which they’ve made, with Bukayo Saka being injured and out for a while, but they have players who can come in and may not be as effective but still enough to get over the line. A big three points.”
The former striker’s comments reflect a broader point about Arsenal’s squad building in recent transfer windows. Replacing a player of Saka’s quality like for like is rarely straightforward, but having credible alternatives in key areas allows Arteta to rotate without the team losing its identity or competitiveness.
What it means for Arsenal
The win over Everton will serve as encouragement for Arteta as he navigates the coming weeks without Saka available. Results like this suggest the squad is equipped to absorb the loss of an individual, even one as important as Saka, without it derailing the wider campaign.
Much will still depend on whether those deputising can maintain this level of performance over a sustained run of fixtures. But on this evidence, Arsenal showed they have enough in reserve to keep picking up results during Saka’s time out.
