Why Arsenal only named 22 players in Premier League squad as Mikel Arteta makes major decisions
Arsenal submitted their Premier League squad ahead of the season resuming this weekend but have not been able to name the maximum 25 players.
They are not alone, though, as only three clubs – Ipswich Town, Newcastle United and Southampton – have the full complement of senior squad members. Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Manchester City are at the other end of the scale, with theirs consisting of just 21 players.
The Gunners are one up on the defending champions, with 22 players named by Mikel Arteta. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and West Ham United also have three empty slots in theirs.
Arteta’s relatively small first team, which lacks members who meet the Home Grown Player (HGP) criteria, is why they cannot fill out the squad. They only have seven HGP: David Raya, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Martinelli and Benjamin White.
A HGP is “a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).” Clubs are then allowed up to 17 non-HGP, of which Arsenal have registered 15.
The criteria only apply to players born before 1 January 2003, though, with anyone whose birthday is on or after that date classed as an under-21 player, who are all eligible to play in the Premier League. The list of those players has also been published, which includes those under contract and on scholarships.
Arsenal have 48 players listed, including Ethan Nwaneri and summer signing Tommy Setford. Theirs is the joint second shortest in the league with Fulham. Only West Ham (47) have fewer under-21s players.
