Arsenal is going through a worrying pre-season period when conceding 7 goals in 3 friendly matches. Before the English Super Cup match with Manchester City, Mikel Arteta needs to quickly regain solidity for his defense, especially in the context of William Saliba having to be sidelined for a long time.
The Gunners" started the preparation process with a 4-1 victory over Girona, but then suffered consecutive defeats against Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund. Notably, Arteta's team conceded 6 goals in the last 2 matches, equivalent to an average of 2.3 goals conceded per match in the first 3 friendly matches of August.
This number is even more noteworthy when Arsenal only conceded an average of 1.4 goals per match in the Premier League last season. It has been more than 3 years since the last time they conceded 3 or more goals in 2 consecutive matches.
Of course, Arteta can see this as a common consequence in the pre-season period, when players have not reached their best playing condition and the squad is still being tested. Arsenal also does not have enough force when many key players have just returned after the 2026 World Cup.
However, what happened in the defeat to Dortmund is still enough to make Arteta worried. Arsenal uses almost the strongest defense with the current players, with Gabriel Magalhaes returning, pairing with Cristhian Mosquera in the center of the defense. However, certainty has not improved, even the defenders have lost positions many times.
Saliba's absence makes the problem even more serious. The French center-back is currently out of action due to a back injury and is expected to be absent for a long time, while Jurrien Timber still needs a few more weeks to return.
Ben White has reappeared after injury but has only made 12 appearances in the Premier League last season. Therefore, Arsenal is placing high hopes on the English defender's ability to maintain fitness in the context that the depth of the defense is not really abundant.
More worryingly, recent goals conceded have not only come from personal mistakes. Among the 6 goals conceded against Real Betis and Dortmund, 3 goals originated from shots from outside the penalty area and 2 goals from corner kicks. This shows that Arsenal's problem lies both in their ability to organize and maintain their defensive structure.
Arteta also needs to improve the balance in the midfield area. Declan Rice's return along with Bruno Guimaraes joining the squad will bring more ability to compete and protect the defense. Martin Odegaard is also expected to help Arsenal control the match better.
Arteta's desire for Arsenal to play more creatively and control the ball more proactively may temporarily affect the defensive structure. Last season, the "Gunners" were criticized for being too dependent on set pieces in difficult matches. Therefore, improving live ball attacking ability is necessary, but this change cannot be exchanged for solidity in defense.
Arsenal still has a friendly match with Como before entering the English Super Cup match against Man City at Wembley. This will be an important test for Arteta to evaluate the squad before the Premier League season begins.
When the players return fully, Arsenal will have more options for rotation. But in the immediate future, Arteta's most important task is to solve the gaps behind the midfield and find a replacement for Saliba. Otherwise, the strength that once helped Arsenal get closer to stability last season could become a big problem in the journey to defend the championship.
