Arsenal have found themselves allowing goals at a worrying frequency during the summer warm‑up period, conceding seven times across just three friendly matches. The solidity that underpinned their Premier League triumph last season now appears to be turning into a surprising vulnerability as the new campaign looms.
The Gunners are set to meet Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, yet their defensive options look thin. Central defender William Saliba is sidelined with a serious back problem that is likely to keep him out for an extended spell, and Jurrien Timber is still weeks away from being match‑fit after his own injury lay‑off. With two of their most reliable centre‑backs unavailable, Arsenal are forced to rely on a makeshift back line that has already shown cracks. Statistically, the pre‑season has been a stark contrast to the defensive record that helped them clinch the league.
In three games since the start of August Arsenal have allowed an average of 2.3 goals per match, and in the last two fixtures that figure jumps to three goals per game – a far cry from the 1.4 goals per Premier League match they conceded on average during the title‑winning season. In fact, it has been more than three years since Arsenal have let in three or more goals in consecutive matches of any sort. The results to date illustrate the trend: - 1 August: Girona 1‑4 Arsenal - 5 August: Arsenal 1‑3 Real Betis - 9 August: Arsenal 2‑3 Borussia Dortmund Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly point out the usual caveats that accompany pre‑season fixtures. These games are designed for experimentation, for players to shake off rust and gradually build match sharpness.
Mistakes are expected, and the intensity should rise as the season approaches. Nevertheless, the defensive frailties displayed, particularly in the loss to Dortmund, are hard to ignore. In the Dortmund game Arteta fielded a first‑choice back four composed of the players currently fit. Gabriel returned to the starting XI, replacing the injured Piero Hincapié, but the defensive unit seemed to deteriorate rather than improve.
Both Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera were caught out of position on several occasions, leaving gaps that the German side exploited. The result was a 3‑2 defeat that highlighted a lack of cohesion and organization at the back. Looking ahead, Arsenal will likely retain a similar defensive quartet for the Community Shield after a final friendly against Como on Wednesday. That match should provide a clearer picture of where the coaching staff needs to focus their corrective work before the Wembley showdown.
Arteta will want his defensive tools sharpened, especially given the absence of Saliba, who has been a cornerstone of their back line. The Community Shield, while technically a one‑off charity match, carries symbolic weight. It offers Arteta, now the longest‑serving Premier League manager, a chance to assert his side’s dominance over a direct rival.
Unlike Enzo Maresca, who will have the luxury of a debut with no prior record, Arteta is under pressure to deliver a positive result in his 353rd competitive game in charge. Even a defeat in a friendly still stings for Arteta, who admitted that the loss to Dortmund "hurt" despite its low stakes.
He criticised the quality of the goals they allowed, describing them as "poor" and noting that the team’s overall intensity was below his expectations. This self‑critique underscores the urgency of tightening the defensive shape.
A deeper look at the goals conceded reveals a pattern: of the six goals let in against Real Betis and Dortmund, three came from long‑range efforts, while two resulted from set‑piece situations. Arsenal’s shape when out of possession appears disjointed, with players drifting out of their defensive zones and creating spaces for opponents to exploit. Midfield also plays a pivotal role in shielding the defence. The arrival of Bruno Guimarães and the imminent return of Declan Rice should add stability and a more aggressive shielding presence.
Guimarães brings composure and the ability to break up play, while Rice’s physicality and leadership will help organise the team’s shape. Martin Ødegaard’s creative influence will also be vital, as a more proactive midfield can reduce the pressure on the back line. Arteta has been encouraging his creative core to take more risks, perhaps at the expense of defensive rigidity.
Last season, Arsenal were often criticised for relying heavily on set‑piece efficiency to win tight games, while their open‑play attacking output lagged behind. This season, Arteta appears to be rebalancing that approach, seeking a more fluid, possession‑based style that can generate chances while also maintaining defensive discipline.
The squad now benefits from greater depth, allowing Arteta to rotate players without a noticeable drop in quality. This depth should enable him to experiment with different defensive pairings and find a combination that can compensate for Saliba’s absence. The recent friendlies have shown glimpses of improved attacking movement, suggesting that the creative overhaul is beginning to bear fruit. As the first week of the competitive season arrives, Arsenal will have the full complement of World Cup winners and England internationals back in training.
Arteta’s immediate priority will be to plug the newly discovered hole in the defensive armour, ensuring that the team can transition from an attacking‑focused philosophy to a balanced, resilient unit capable of handling the rigours of a title defence. In summary, Arsenal’s pre‑season has exposed a surprising defensive weakness that could threaten their ambitions as reigning champions. While the attacking talent is evident and the midfield is set to strengthen, the back line must find cohesion and concentration quickly.
The upcoming Community Shield will serve as a litmus test for Arteta’s adjustments, and the lessons learned there will likely shape the early part of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign.