Arsenal is intensifying efforts to secure defensive reinforcements following confirmation that both Jurriën Timber and William Saliba are sidelined. Manager Mikel Arteta indicated that Timber is still weeks away from returning to competitive play, while Saliba is in a two-week rest period due to an aggravated back injury.
The club’s need for defensive depth became apparent after Arsenal lost a second consecutive friendly match, with Borussia Dortmund securing a 3-2 victory in the Emirates Cup. This match featured several defensive errors, highlighting the challenges the team faces ahead of the Community Shield fixture against Manchester City.
Injury updates on key defenders
Jurriën Timber is making progress in his recovery from a persistent groin injury. The injury forced him to withdraw from the Netherlands squad before the World Cup and required surgery in June. Despite being on the pitch and engaging in significant activity, Arteta stated that Timber’s return is still “weeks away.”
William Saliba is currently in a two-week rest period to allow a back injury to heal. This injury, sustained during the World Cup, has kept him out of action for an extended period. Arteta acknowledged that it will take “some time to heal” and refrained from providing a specific timeline for his return.
Arteta commented on the impact of their absences, noting, “We know we lost a massive player, the same with Jurriën.” He added that Arsenal has unfortunately experienced coping without Saliba in the past, and his statistics when available are “incredible.”
Search for defensive reinforcements
In light of these defensive setbacks, Arsenal has been actively pursuing new players. The club reportedly made a bid for Aston Villa‘s Ezri Konsa, which was rejected. Arsenal is expected to submit a new offer for the England centre-back, who can also play at right-back. Aston Villa values Konsa at £60m, but Arsenal is reportedly unwilling to meet that price, especially with less than two years remaining on his contract.
Interest has also been shown in Cristian Romero from Tottenham. However, a move for the Argentina defender is considered highly unlikely due to Spurs‘ reluctance to sell to their north London rivals. Other names, such as Sporting Lisbon‘s Ivan Fresneda, have also been mentioned as potential reinforcements.
Arteta did not rule out bringing in another defender, emphasizing the need for “the right player in the market to make us much better.” He stressed that the existing players must improve, acknowledging that conceding “poor goals” is a collective responsibility.
The manager started Cristhian Mosquera alongside Gabriel Magalhães in central defence against Borussia Dortmund. He confirmed that the club’s business in the transfer market might not be concluded, indicating a continued search for suitable additions.
Attention is also turning to integrating Bruno Guimaraes into the squad and welcoming back seven Arsenal players whose World Cup campaigns concluded recently. Some players, including David Raya and Bukayo Saka, returned earlier than anticipated. On Monday, all returning players are expected to be available to begin their training programmes.
Arteta noted that players are returning at different stages of their preparation, with some having participated more or less in the World Cup. He stated that this varied fitness has been factored into the club’s planning as they prepare for the upcoming season, which includes the Community Shield match against Manchester City on Sunday.
The pre-season phase, which involved academy youngsters filling gaps, is now over. With the return of key players and the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, Arteta can begin preparing the team he expects to field for competitive matches. The team has a limited time to become a cohesive unit before their home fixture against Coventry.
Source: theguardian.com
