Arsenal have looked defensively weak in pre-season - can they cope without William Saliba as Premier League campaign nears?
10 August 2026, 13:30 | Updated: 10 August 2026, 16:43
Arsenal have been conceding goals at an alarming rate in pre-season. Seven across three games. Has their greatest strength, one that contributed hugely to their Premier League title success last season, become a surprise source of frailty on the eve of the next?
The Gunners face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, worryingly light on defensive cover. William Saliba has been sidelined with a significant back injury that is expected to keep him out for an extended period, while Jurrien Timber is still weeks away from his injury return.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta's pre-season preparations have hit the buffers. Arsenal have shipped an average of 2.3 goals in their three friendlies played since the start of August, six in their last two, a figure ominously higher than the 1.4 goals per Premier League outing last term.
In fact, it's been over three years since Arsenal conceded three plus goals in consecutive games of any nature.
Arteta will of course point to the obvious caveats. Pre-season is where mistake are meant to be made, with players easing out of test mode and closer to flow state as the campaign nears. Sharpness improves along the way.
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