Arsenal's pre-season defeat to Borussia Dortmund has highlighted a new transfer priority: bolstering the defence, particularly at right-back. The 3-2 loss on Sunday exposed the team's vulnerability without key players, and with the Premier League season opener against Coventry just a week after the Community Shield, manager Mikel Arteta faces a selection headache.
Midfield concerns addressed
Arteta smiled with relief after the match, saying, "Tomorrow, finally, everybody back." The return of World Cup players like Bukayo Saka, David Raya, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Martin Zubimendi will boost the squad. Rice and Bruno Guimaraes are expected to fix the midfield issues seen in pre-season, where Dortmund found large spaces to exploit.
Defensive frailties exposed
However, the defence remains a major worry. Arsenal have conceded six goals in their last two matches. While pre-season results are often not indicative of the season ahead, the lack of cover at right-back is alarming. With Jurrien Timber weeks away from a return and William Saliba out for months with a back injury, the back four is thin.
Ben White, just back from an MCL injury, is the only senior right-back, and his fitness is not guaranteed. Louis Copley is out with an ACL injury, leaving 18-year-old Theo Julienne as cover. Arsenal are linked with Ezri Konsa and Cristian Romero, but a genuine right-back might be a better fit.
Centre-back options
At centre-back, Arsenal have numbers: Cristhian Mosquera, White, Timber, and Piero Hincapie can all play there. But at right-back, one injury to White would force a disruptive reshuffle. Strengthening the defence, especially at right-back, should be a top priority for sporting director Andrea Berta before the transfer window closes.
