Mikel Arteta has made Arsenal’s remaining transfer priority clear after a 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City in Cardiff.
Despite opening the new season with a statement 3-0 win against Manchester City, Mikel Arteta has made it clear Arsenal are still working to reinforce parts of the squad hit by injuries.
Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard saw the Gunners lift the Community Shield, wrapping up a comfortable win over Enzo Maresca’s side.
Even with the silverware, Arsenal’s defensive options continue to look thin. William Saliba is still sidelined with what Arteta called a longer-term injury, and Jurrien Timber, though making progress in his recovery, is still a few weeks away from returning.
Against City, Cristhian Mosquera lined up alongside Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back, with Ben White and Calafiori filling out the back four. Despite the defence feeling comfortable for most of the match, Arteta confirmed that Arsenal need to address the lack of depth.
“We know that there are certain areas that through injuries we are weaker and we need to strengthen. We are trying to do that. We’ve been trying to do that for weeks.”
Arteta also made it clear they will only act if the right opportunity presents itself before the transfer window shuts.
The Arsenal manager has followed that same line over the past week when asked about further signings for the Gunners. Admitting ahead of the Community Shield match that they had “detected some areas that can be strengthened”.
Given the current depth at the back for Arsenal, it’s not hard to understand why this has fast become a priority.
With Saliba missing, Arsenal are without one of their first-choice centre-backs, and Timber’s return is still some way off. Ben White can slot in centrally if needed, and Piero Hincapie is another option, but shifting either into the middle leaves Arteta with fewer choices at full-back.
Mosquera performed well alongside Gabriel as Arsenal kept a clean sheet, but the team sheet offered a clear contrast between the depth available going forward compared to the back line.
Both Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera have found themselves starting roles ahead of the new season [REUTERS]
Both Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera have found themselves starting roles ahead of the new season [REUTERS]
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were both left out of the squad, but Arteta confirmed afterwards that neither absence was down to fitness, but “technical decisions”
Arteta admitted that leaving out senior players is becoming one of the tougher parts of his job, especially with the packed schedule Arsenal face this season.
It’s a different story at the back, where injuries have already limited his options before the Premier League campaign has even begun.
Arsenal have already been busy in the market this summer. Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis both made their first competitive starts against City. Guimaraes lined up alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly in midfield, while Tzolis picked up two assists as he continued his bright start in North London.
With two weeks left in the transfer window, Arteta believes Arsenal's work is far from done.
The 3-0 win over Manchester City underlined the quality already at Arteta’s disposal. But it hasn’t changed the reality. Injuries have left Arsenal with less cover defensively, an issue that caused them to fall short on title races in previous season.