Arteta Confirms Arsenal Search For New Defender As Saliba Injury Creates Backline Shortage

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the Premier League champions are actively searching for a new defender to ease their shortage at the back following William Saliba’s long-term injury.

Arteta disclosed this on Thursday ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday.

“We are really active in the market, I think I mentioned that a few days ago,” Arteta said.

“The ambition is to improve the squad. We have a really specific issue in the backline, especially with the long-term injury of Wilo [Saliba] and the fact that we miss one more defender; that’s clear.

“So we are trying to reinforce that area. Whenever we’re ready, we’ll announce something.”

The Gunners have been linked with several defenders, with reports this week claiming they are leading the race for Aston Villa and England defender Ezri Konsa, who can play at centre-back and right-back.

Asked if Arsenal were close to a new signing, Arteta said the club were working hard to strengthen the squad but acknowledged that the deal would also depend on factors outside their control.

“I’m always positive, I’m always confident. It’s something that I cannot control. It doesn’t depend just on us, so we are willing to improve that area and we’re going to try our best to achieve that,” he said.

Arteta also confirmed that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are ready for the season opener.

“Yes, they’re ready to be involved, yes,” he said.

However, Jurriën Timber has yet to return to full team training, while the Arsenal manager gave no guarantees over Bruno Guimaraes’ availability for Friday’s game.

“No, I said in the next few weeks. He’s not training with the group yet,” Arteta said of Timber.

On Bruno Guimaraes, he added: “Let’s see how he is. He’s evolving really well, but let’s see for tomorrow.”

Arteta said Arsenal wanted to maintain a deeper squad because of the demands of the campaign and the injury problems that affected the team last season.

“Because I would like to have the squad as big as possible because we know what we are fighting for, how long this is, and we will learn again from the past, especially last year, when we got in some difficult situations, and we had two or three injuries in the same area of the pitch,” he said.

“So the deeper the squad that we have, the better.”

The Spaniard said the ideal number of players would depend on several factors, including their injury records, availability and ability to play in different positions.

“22 players and three goalkeepers or four is enough, or maybe you need more; you need to understand what happened in the previous season, the injury record of those players, the versatility of certain players,” he said.

“I’m sure we’ll land on the right number: a bit of both, a lot of competition, the right level of cooperation in the team, and everybody feeling important.”

Arteta also confirmed that Myles Lewis-Skelly would remain at Arsenal beyond the transfer deadline. “100%,” he said.

Naija News reports that Arsenal will begin their title defence at 8 p.m. tonight, August 21, but Arteta said last season’s success gives his players no advantage as they prepare for another demanding campaign.

“From today, no, because we start from scratch, from zero tomorrow, and we’re going to have to prove we have the level to go back to that position again,” he said when asked whether the champions now had a target on their backs.

“You give me the choice, I want to be first, I want to be hunted, and I want to be in control of our future rather than depend on somebody else.”

Arteta insisted that his players remain determined to retain the Premier League title, although he said they must prove themselves throughout the season.

“That we want, I guarantee you, with my life, that’s the case, and how willing they are to achieve that,” the coach said.

“But we need to show, and that’s only on the pitch and the way we act and react and overcome different challenges and opportunities over the season, whether we are capable of doing it or not.”