Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal transfer plan after Community Shield win over Manchester City
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Mikel Arteta after Arsenal’s Community Shield win (Picture: Getty) Mikel Arteta outlined Arsenal’s plan for the rest of the summer transfer window after the Gunners outplayed Manchester City in the Community Shield. Defending Premier League champions Arsenal issued a warning to their title rivals with a hugely impressive 3-0 win over Man City in Cardiff. It took Arsenal less than 30 seconds to break the deadlock, Riccardo Calafiori tucking home following a superb through ball from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Kai Havertz headed Arsenal two goals in front midway through the first half following an assist from Gunners summer signing Christos Tzolis. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Captain Martin Odegaard scored his side’s third as Arsenal thumped Manchester City in Enzo Maresca’s first competitive game since replacing Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal look incredibly strong going into the new season but Arteta confirmed he was still hoping to bolster his defensive options before the summer transfer window closes. Asked whether his focus is now on defensive reinforcements after the £75m deal for Bruno Guimaraes, Arteta said: ‘We know there are certain areas that through injuries we are weaker and we need to strengthen. {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Arteta says Community Shield statement win proves Arsenal are 'ready for it'","contentUrl":"https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2026\/08\/17\/7779755569864816200\/480x270_MP4_7779755569864816200.mp4","description":"Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's desire \"to go straight again\" after Manchester City were overwhelmed 3-0 by the Premier League champions in the Community Shield.","duration":"T8M14S","height":270,"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/08\/17\/07\/110678029-0-image-a-8_1786947795231.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-08-17T07:22:17+0100","width":480} To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page window.addEventListener('metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded', function(data) { if (typeof(data.detail) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === 'undefined' || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === 'undefined') { return; } var player = data.detail.carousel.el_; var container = player.closest('.metro-video-player'); var placeholder = container.querySelector('.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder'); if (placeholder) { container.removeChild(placeholder); container.classList.add('metro-video-player--related-videos-loaded'); } }); Arsenal thumped Man City to lift the Community Shield (Picture: Getty) ‘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.’ Discussing Arsenal’s statement win more generally, Arteta added: ‘A really good performance ‘To show the desire we showed and the reaction I was really impressed. I told them I really enjoyed watching them play.’ Arsenal are without star defender William Saliba (Picture: Getty) Arteta is keen to sign a new centre-back after losing William Saliba for an ‘extended period’ through an injury sustained during France’s World Cup campaign. Arsenal will also be without Jurrien Timber for the start of the season. The Gunners have expressed interest in signing England international Ezri Konsa but Aston Villa are holding out for a fee of £60m, while Arsenal have so far only indicated they are willing to pay £45m. Arsenal celebrate their Community Shield victory (Picture: PA) Arsenal also admire Konsa’s England teammate Jarell Quansah, a former Liverpool player who featured at this summer’s World Cup. Discussing Saliba and Timber’s injuries ahead of the Community Shield against Man City, Arteta said: ‘Jurrien is progressing really well. ‘He is on the pitch, we are ramping
