Arsenal have been letting the ball slip through their back line at a startling pace during the summer warm‑up matches, conceding seven goals across three fixtures. 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 could keep him out for months, and Jurrien Timber remains several weeks away from full fitness. With two of the most reliable centre‑backs unavailable, Arteta is forced to rely on a makeshift back four that has already shown cracks. In addition to the personnel shortage, Arsenal's pre‑season statistics raise eyebrows.
The team has allowed an average of 2.3 goals per friendly since the start of August, a figure that jumps to six conceded in the last two games alone. By contrast, Arsenal gave up just 1.4 goals per league match during their title‑winning season. It is worth noting that it has been more than three years since the club allowed three or more goals in consecutive matches of any kind.
The recent results illustrate the problem: - 1 August – Girona 1‑4 Arsenal - 5 August – Arsenal 1‑3 Real Betis - 9 August – Arsenal 2‑3 Borussia Dortmund Arteta will undoubtedly point to the usual pre‑season caveats: these games are meant for experimentation, players are shaking off the rust of the off‑season, and defensive cohesion will improve as the squad settles. He also has a number of first‑team regulars returning, plus the new signing Bruno Guimarães, who will partner Declan Rice in a deeper midfield role and provide an additional layer of protection for the back line. Nevertheless, the defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday was a stark reminder of how exposed Arsenal can be even when a first‑choice back four is deployed. Gabriel returned to replace Piero Hincapié in central defence, but rather than stabilising the unit, the partnership with Cristhian Mosquera looked disjointed, with both centre‑backs caught out of position on several occasions.
The lack of communication and positional discipline was evident, and the team surrendered three goals, two of which came from well‑taken set‑piece deliveries. Saliba's absence was felt acutely; his composure and ability to organise the defence have been missed. The likely line‑up for the Community Shield will probably feature the same quartet that struggled against Dortmund, unless Arteta decides to give a final friendly against Como on Wednesday a chance to test an alternative configuration.
That match should provide a clearer picture of where the defensive frailties lie and what work needs to be done before the season opener at Wembley. Regardless of the trophy at stake, the Shield is an important early test 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 first official match. This is his 353rd competitive game in charge, and a loss would sting, even six years into his tenure.
After the Dortmund loss, Arteta admitted the defeat "hurt" and highlighted the "poor goals" the team allowed, signalling his awareness that Arsenal are not performing at the intensity he expects. A deeper look at the six goals conceded to Real Betis and Dortmund reveals a pattern: three resulted from shots taken outside the box, while two stemmed from defensive corners. This suggests that Arsenal's shape when out of possession is out of sync, with players failing to close down space and leaving gaps for opponents to exploit. In midfield, the problem is even more pronounced.
The roles of the midfielders should become clearer once Rice is fully fit, supported by Guimarães' assertiveness and Martin Ødegaard's leadership. Arteta has also been encouraging his creative players to take more initiative, which may have come at the cost 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, with the added resources to rotate the squad without sacrificing quality, Arteta will need to strike a better balance between attacking flair and defensive solidity. The good news is that the recent friendlies have shown signs of improved possession and chance creation, indicating that the team is moving in the right direction offensively. Starting this week, the squad will be at full strength as World Cup winners and England internationals return from international duty. Arteta's primary task will be to shore up the newly exposed chink in Arsenal's defensive armour, doing so without the insurance of Saliba.
If the manager can tighten the back line, restore positional discipline, and blend the renewed creativity of his midfield with a more disciplined defensive framework, Arsenal could turn this pre‑season warning sign into a catalyst for a stronger, more resilient title defence. The upcoming Community Shield will offer a first glimpse of whether the Gunners have managed to plug the holes before the league season truly begins.