Arsenal identify defensive priority after Borussia Dortmund defeat

Arsenal's 3-2 pre-season defeat to Borussia Dortmund has reinforced the club's need to strengthen defensively before the summer transfer window closes, despite ongoing links with attacking reinforcements and centre-backs such as Cristian Romero and Ezri Konsa.

Mikel Arteta welcomed the imminent return of his remaining World Cup stars following the match, knowing Arsenal's strongest XI will soon be available ahead of the Community Shield and the new Premier League campaign. However, Sunday's performance exposed a lack of depth at right-back that could become a significant issue during the season.

Arsenal looked vulnerable throughout the defeat, particularly in transition. With Myles Lewis-Skelly operating as the holding midfielder and Riccardo Calafiori frequently stepping into advanced areas, Dortmund repeatedly found space to attack.

The return of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and David Raya should improve the side considerably, while Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze are also returning to full training. Those additions are expected to solve many of the problems seen during pre-season.

Even so, concerns remain in defence.

William Saliba is still sidelined with a back injury, while Jurriën Timber is not expected to return for several more weeks. That has left Ben White as Arsenal's only recognised senior right-back, with Cristhian Mosquera instead required in central defence to cover Saliba's absence.

Arsenal have already conceded six goals across their last two pre-season matches, underlining the need for greater stability at the back before the Premier League season begins.

Although Arsenal continue to monitor Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and have also been linked with Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, neither deal appears straightforward.

Villa's reported £60 million valuation of Konsa is understood to exceed Arsenal's own assessment, while Romero would represent a complicated transfer between North London rivals.

Instead, the Gunners may benefit more from signing a specialist right-back.

With Louis Copley currently recovering from an ACL injury and teenager Theo Julienne providing cover during pre-season, Arsenal's options behind White remain extremely limited. Any further injury would likely force another reshuffle across the defence.

While Mosquera, Timber and even Piero Hincapié can all play centrally if required, there is far less depth on the right side of the back four.

There was encouraging news away from the result itself, with Arteta confirming that Arsenal's final group of World Cup players are now returning to London Colney.

Rice, Zubimendi and Eze are all expected back alongside Raya after Saka reported earlier this weekend. Their return should significantly improve Arsenal's balance ahead of the Community Shield, but Sunday's defeat highlighted that squad depth in defence remains an issue the club may still need to address before the transfer deadline.

Arsenal will continue preparing for the Community Shield as their returning internationals build match fitness over the coming days. Andrea Berta is also expected to remain active in the transfer market, with strengthening the defensive unit likely to remain high on the agenda before the Premier League season gets underway.