Arsenal prowess shows they’re not lacking attacking threat, but defensive cover still needed

Arsenal could hardly have asked for a more convincing start. They arrived at the Principality Stadium as Premier League champions, dispatched Manchester City 3-0 and played with the authority their new status demands.

For Mikel Arteta, that is unlikely to be enough. Winning the title has answered the question that haunted Arsenal for the previous three seasons, but posed another: How do you improve a team that is already winning?

It is a challenge Arteta will relish. He is determined to exploit every margin, and leave no stone unturned in his search for improvement. Some of that can be done on the training pitch — the sweeping changes in Arsenal’s performance and medical departments speak to the manager’s rapacious hunger for progress.

There are other ways to improve. Shortly before kick-off, Arteta spoke to TNT Sports about his expectations for the coming season.

“We recognise the big margins that we have to be much better as a team, and much better individually. And then that has to be supported by the ambition of the club, which is there. Unquestionable.”

The final part of his answer appears to allude towards the transfer market. This performance — albeit against an underwhelming City — was a reminder of the strength of Arsenal’s existing squad. Despite the failure to land marquee signings such as Vinicius Junior or Morgan Rogers, Arsenal have an impressive array of depth, experience and quality.

Two summer signings made an immediate impression in Cardiff. Bruno Guimaraes slotted seamlessly into the Arsenal midfield, playing 45 combative minutes before making way for Declan Rice — illustrative of the embarrassment of midfield riches at Arteta’s disposal. Christos Tzolis, the Greek international signed from Club Brugge, created goals for Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.

Martin Odegaard was particularly impressive (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

But there is still work to do before September 1’s transfer deadline.

The substitutes’ bench told that story, both in terms of outgoings and incomings. For all the talk of Arsenal needing a new forward, in terms of pure numbers they are well-stocked for attacking players — Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson all failed to make the team sheet.

In his post-match press conference, Arteta insisted the omissions were solely due to “technical decisions” — but Arsenal are considering offers for all of those players ahead of the transfer deadline.

Nwaneri and Martinelli were with the squad in Cardiff. As Arsenal celebrated at full time, centre-back Gabriel encouraged his compatriot to join him for photos with the trophy. Martinelli declined. His omission from the squad does not augur well for his Arsenal future.

If Arteta has a surfeit of attacking options, it’s a different situation at the back. With William Saliba and Jurrien Timber sidelined, Arsenal had just one defender (Piero Hincapie) among the nine substitutes.

“We know that there are certain areas that, through injuries, we are weaker and we need to strengthen,” said Arteta. “We are trying to do that; we’ve been trying to do that for weeks. If there is the right opportunity and the club is able to do it, we will do it.”

Arsenal’s primary defensive target has been Ezri Konsa, but Aston Villa are holding firm on their £60million valuation. That has led Arsenal to consider other options, such as Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah.

With the start of the Premier League now just days away, a defensive signing may be considered the more pressing priority.

Arsenal hold an interest in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa (Getty Images)

Arteta will be encouraged that Arsenal’s attack looked enlivened by the performances of Havertz and especially Odegaard, who capped an outstanding performance with an audacious goal. The Arsenal captain received a pass from Tzolis and dummied not once but twice before slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Arsenal would still benefit from an attacking addition. Their issue is clearly not one of quantity, but quality — an elite forward would undoubtedly elevate their game.

Landing a player like Vinicius Jr might have transformed Arsenal’s attacking threat. But Arteta will be equally eager to preserve the defensive foundations that took them to the title. Arteta wants to raise the ceiling but secure the floor. Every summer, Arteta impresses upon the club the need to maximise their window for improvement. The club have little more than two weeks to deliver.

Arsenal attack the final part of the window from a position of strength. They have continuity, consistency, and — after this resounding victory — confidence.

Many are content to dismiss the Community Shield as a friendly — and City’s startling lack of intensity suggested they regarded it as such. Arteta, however, has repeatedly referred to this fixture as “a final”. He believes winning is a habit — one he is keen to see become ingrained at Arsenal.

As Enzo Maresca gave his post-match press conference, the sound of DJ Khaled’s All I Do Is Win could be heard blaring from the Arsenal dressing room. It seems the team are ready to embrace their new ideology of dominance.

“We know what we are,” sang the Arsenal fans. In a Premier League where so many of their rivals are coming to grips with a new identity, that could be Arsenal’s biggest advantage.