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Arsenal may have just sent a strong warning to the rest of the Premier League by brushing aside Manchester City, but Mikel Arteta is still not fully satisfied. In spite of a commanding 3-0 win in the Community Shield, the Gunners manager has called for further additions before the transfer window closes.

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Arteta calls for greater depth despite Cardiff masterclass

Arsenal delivered a major statement to their title challengers on Sunday, completely outplaying Manchester City in a one-sided 3-0 victory to lift the Community Shield. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard sealed the trophy in Cardiff, but Arteta used his post-match press conference to underline notable shortcomings in his squad.

Speaking after the final whistle, Arteta confirmed that he wants to return to the market even after the successful £75m signing of Bruno Guimaraes. “We know there are certain areas that through injuries we are weaker and we need to strengthen,” the Arsenal manager said. “We’re trying to do that and we’ve been trying to do that for weeks. Only when the opportunity is right for the club will we do it.”

Defensive crisis threatens after Saliba injury setback

The biggest issue for the north London club is at the centre of defence. First-choice centre-back William Saliba is expected to be out for a lengthy period after suffering a serious injury during France’s World Cup campaign, while Jurrien Timber is dealing with a groin problem.

Providing an update on the two injured defenders, Arteta outlined different recovery timelines for each of them. “Jurrien is progressing really well,” he said. “He is on the pitch, we are ramping up now with certain actions and especially the volume and the load. I think he is on a good trajectory, but there is still a few weeks to go.

“Wilo, as we all know, it’s more a long-term injury. We have to wait and see. He needs to start to train with the group in the next week or so hopefully, and then see how he progresses from there.

“It’s been a long-term issue, and we want to make sure that every step that we take is the right one, he feels right to do that, because he’s such an important player for us.”

Transfer options identified as Aston Villa stand firm

Arsenal have already drawn up possible options to address the gap, with England international Ezri Konsa among the leading names on their shortlist. However, talks with Aston Villa have run into difficulty because of the defender’s valuation. While the Gunners are understood to be ready to offer £45m, the Birmingham club is reportedly asking for a figure closer to £60m.

Another player firmly under consideration is Jarell Quansah, the former Liverpool defender who caught the eye during the recent World Cup. Arteta is keen to make sure the club chooses the correct option rather than acting out of panic.

Statement victory sets the tone for title defence

Whatever the transfer discussion, the display against City indicated that Arsenal are prepared to defend their Premier League title. Calafiori took less than 30 seconds to open the scoring, while new arrival Christos Tzolis supplied two important assists for Havertz and Odegaard. Arteta was full of appreciation for the way his players approached the game. “A really good performance,” he added. “To show the desire we showed and the reaction I was really impressed. I told them I really enjoyed watching them play.”

The result was especially satisfying as it came against Enzo Maresca’s City team in his first competitive match since replacing Pep Guardiola, with the 3-0 loss representing City’s heaviest defeat in a manager’s debut in 120 years. Arsenal supporters will be encouraged by the fluency of the attack, but the manager’s concerns over squad depth will continue to carry weight as the new season draws near.