Dan Zeqiri
Chelsea and Arsenal have been frequently described as two teams “in transition”, one of modern football’s catchphrases that critics argue is a preemptive excuse for failure.
However, the age profile of their regular starters suggests that categorisation is well justified. Frank Lampard and Mikel Arteta inherited squads that resembled a misshapen pantomime horse: several exciting youngsters, a reliance on senior professionals entering the autumn of their careers, but few spinal players in their mid-twenties.
In part, this explains Chelsea and Arsenal’s inconsistencies (though Chelsea have been at a higher level) and why today’s FA Cup final is unpredictable. It is also in stark contrast to champions Liverpool.
If we consider a player’s peak to be between 26 and 30 – a compromise because forwards peak earlier than defenders – Liverpool have 10 players in that sweet spot with 39 or more appearances in all competitions. Key figures such as Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah all qualify.
Liverpool have a squad set up to win in the here and now – and they did just that.
By contrast, just three Chelsea players in this range have made more than 39 appearances: Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic. Arsenal have one: Granit Xhaka.
Just two Liverpool players aged 23 or younger made more than 20 appearances: Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-arnold.
Six Chelsea players aged 23 or younger have made more than 20 appearances: Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-odoi, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham.
Arsenal have seven players aged 23 or younger with more than 20 appearances: Kieran Tierney, Dani Ceballos, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson and Bukayo Saka. Eddie Nketiah is close to the threshold with 16 appearances and 20-year-old Willock has actually made more appearances than any Arsenal player this season with 44.
Arsenal and Chelsea are caught between eras, the old order fading, but the new yet to be born. Despite the credit given to Lampard and Arteta for putting their faith in youth, both leaned on experience in the closing stages of the season.
When it comes to strengthening, Chelsea have added Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech, 24 and 27, two off-the-peg purchases who can hit the ground running, although they are also close to buying 21-year-old sensation Kai Havertz. Despite widespread calls to build for the long term, Arsenal’s strongest transfer links have been to 27-year-old Thomas Partey, 28-year-old Philippe Coutinho and even Chelsea’s Willian, 31.
Arteta and Lampard appear to want established players who can give their teams the kind of consistency Liverpool have shown.
Alan Hansen should afford himself a wry smile at his former club, who this season affirmed his much-mocked maxim that “you can’t win anything with kids”. Well, maybe the FA Cup.
Arteta and Lampard want established players who can provide the kind of consistency Liverpool have shown