Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal’s defending was “not very recognisable” during Sunday’s 3-2 Emirates Cup defeat by Borussia Dortmund.
Arsenal conceded three times for the second successive pre-season match, having also been beaten 3-2 by Real Betis, and Arteta was unhappy with several aspects of the performance.
Speaking after the game, the Arsenal manager pointed specifically to set-pieces, defensive actions and the timing of his players’ decisions.
Arteta told Arsenal’s official website there had been “some poor moments” in which his side did not look like themselves.
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Arsenal found themselves two goals behind before half-time after Samuele Inacio and Konstantinos Karetsas struck for Dortmund.
Ethan Nwaneri pulled one back after the interval, only for Joane Gadou to restore Dortmund’s two-goal advantage following another situation Arsenal failed to defend effectively.
Viktor Gyokeres later converted a penalty, but Arsenal could not find an equaliser.
Arteta acknowledged that there were encouraging attacking moments, but his assessment of Arsenal’s defending was considerably less positive.
The Gunners were without several important players, including William Saliba, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Bukayo Saka, while a number of others have only recently returned following the World Cup.
There was therefore important context behind the performance.
Even so, Arsenal conceding six goals across their past two matches is something Arteta will want to address quickly.
ReadArsenal’s three things learned from the Dortmund defeat also highlighted the defensive problems, with Saliba’s absence leaving Arsenal without their established first-choice partnership at centre-back.
Gabriel Magalhaes has now returned, while Cristhian Mosquera has received valuable minutes during Saliba’s absence.
Arsenal’s next competitive challenge will be considerably less forgiving, with Manchester City waiting in the Community Shield.
Pre-season results carry little significance on their own, but Arteta’s reaction suggests the manner in which Arsenal are conceding is something he expects to improve.
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