Arsenal face a deepening defensive crisis ahead of their Premier League title defence, with William Saliba expected to be out for a matter of months due to a back injury that does not require surgery. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saliba is in rest mode for two weeks before beginning rehabilitation.
Compounding the concern, Jurriën Timber remains weeks away from a return to competitive action. The injury setbacks follow Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Sunday's Emirates Cup friendly, with the Community Shield against Manchester City looming next week and the league campaign opening against Coventry on August 21.
On the transfer front, Arsenal had a bid for Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa rejected and are expected to return with an improved offer, though the club is unwilling to meet Villa's £60 million valuation. The club has also shown interest in Tottenham's Cristian Romero. On a brighter note, David Raya has returned to training ahead of schedule and Bukayo Saka was back at the training ground over the weekend.