Arsenal have found themselves allowing far too many goals during the summer warm‑up period – seven goals in just three friendly matches. The defensive solidity that was a cornerstone of 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 they head into the showdown with a markedly thin back line.
Central defender William Saliba is out with a serious back problem that is expected to keep him sidelined for a substantial stretch of the season, and Jurrien Timber is still weeks away from full fitness after his own injury lay‑off. Adding to the anxiety, Mikel Arteta’s pre‑season preparations have hit a rough patch.
In the three friendlies played since the start of August Arsenal have conceded an average of 2.3 goals per game – six goals across the last two fixtures – a rate that dwarfs the 1.4 goals they allowed per league match during the title‑winning campaign. In fact, it has been more than three years since Arsenal have given up three or more goals in back‑to‑back games of any kind. The results so far read: - 1 August: Girona 1‑4 Arsenal - 5 August: Arsenal 1‑3 Real Betis - 9 August: Arsenal 2‑3 Borussia Dortmund Arteta will naturally point to the usual pre‑season caveats.
Summer matches are meant for experimentation, for players to shake off the rust of the off‑season and gradually find a rhythm as the competitive calendar approaches. Sharpness improves with each minute on the pitch.
Nevertheless, the numbers are hard to ignore. The Spaniard has a sizeable pool of first‑team regulars returning from international duty, plus the newly signed midfielder Bruno Guimarães who must be woven into the side’s fabric. Guimarães, alongside Declan Rice, is expected to provide a vital secondary shield in front of the back four.
Even so, Arteta cannot disguise the frailties exposed in the defeat to Dortmund on Sunday, where he fielded a first‑choice defensive quartet composed of the players currently fit. Gabriel returned to the starting XI, replacing Piero Hincapié at centre‑back, but the defensive performance deteriorated rather than improved.
Both Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera were caught out of position, leaving gaps that the German side exploited. Saliba’s absence was felt keenly, and it is likely that the same back four will be selected for the clash with City after a final friendly against Como on Wednesday.
That match should give Arteta a clearer picture of where the defensive work‑shopping needs to focus before stepping onto Wembley for the season’s inaugural competitive fixture. Any match – the Community Shield or a regular league game – carries weight, especially when it pits Arsenal against a direct rival. Arteta, now the longest‑serving Premier League manager, will not be granted the same leeway that a newcomer such as Enzo Maresca might enjoy in his debut.
This is Arteta’s 353rd competitive encounter as a manager, and a loss at this stage still stings. He admitted after the Dortmund loss that it “hurt”, even though the stakes were relatively low. "We conceded some poor goals the other day, some poor goals today, in the way we competed, especially," he said, acknowledging that the team were not operating at the intensity he expects.
The defensive issues are perhaps more glaring than they first appear. Of the six goals conceded to Real Betis and Dortmund, three came from shots outside the penalty area and two resulted from set‑piece situations. Arsenal’s shape when out of possession looks disjointed, with players out of sync and lacking the compactness that characterised their title‑winning season. Midfield, too, has shown signs of imbalance.
The roles and responsibilities of the central midfielders should settle once Rice is fully fit, supported by the assertiveness of Guimarães and the leadership of Martin Ødegaard. Until then, the team has struggled to maintain a cohesive defensive block, often leaving space for opponents to exploit. It is also evident that Arteta has been encouraging his creative core to take more risks, perhaps at the expense of defensive rigidity. Last season Arsenal were frequently criticised for relying on set‑piece prowess to edge tight games, while their open‑play efficiency lagged behind.
This season, Arteta appears to be tweaking that balance, aiming to give his side a broader range of attacking options now that they are the defending champions. The increased depth in the squad also allows him to rotate players more freely without a significant drop in quality.
The good news is that the recent friendlies have shown signs of a more vibrant possession style and an uptick in chance creation, suggesting that the offensive adjustments are bearing fruit. However, the defensive concerns cannot be brushed aside. Starting this week, Arteta will finally have his full complement of players back as World Cup winners and England internationals rejoin the squad. His primary task will be to plug the newly discovered hole in Arsenal’s defensive armour, a task made more difficult without the insurance of Saliba’s presence.
In summary, Arsenal’s pre‑season has highlighted a potential weakness that could undermine their title‑defending ambitions if not addressed promptly. The upcoming fixtures, particularly the Community Shield against Manchester City, will serve as a litmus test for how quickly Arteta can tighten up the back line while preserving the more expansive, creative football he seems intent on cultivating. The season ahead will hinge on whether the Gunners can restore the defensive solidity that made them champions while continuing to evolve their attacking play.