Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the club are actively seeking another defender because of William Saliba’s long-term injury and a shortage of options in the backline.

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Arteta made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday.

“We are really active in the market, I think I mentioned that a few days ago,” Arteta said in a club statement.

“The ambition is to improve the squad. We have a really specific issue in the backline, especially with the long-term injury of Wilo [Saliba] and the fact that we miss one more defender; that’s clear.

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“So we are trying to reinforce that area. Whenever we’re ready, we’ll announce something,” he added

Asked whether a signing was close, Arteta said Arsenal were doing everything possible but that the outcome was not entirely within his control.

“I’m always positive, I’m always confident. It’s something that I cannot control. It doesn’t depend just on us, so we are willing to improve that area and we’re going to try our best to achieve that,” he said.

Arteta also confirmed that Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are available for Arsenal’s opening fixture.

However, Jurriën Timber is not yet back in full team training.

“No, I said in the next few weeks. He’s not training with the group yet,” Arteta said.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria