Mikel Arteta has remained non-committal regarding Arsenal’s interest in Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah, emphasizing his ambition to improve the squad as injuries plague his defense.

As the defending English champions gear up for the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Arteta faces significant challenges. Notably, he will begin the season without two key defenders: Jurrien Timber, who is recovering from a knee issue, and William Saliba, sidelined for months due to a back problem sustained during the World Cup.

To address these gaps, Arsenal is looking to enhance their defensive options, with reports indicating renewed interest in Aston Villa’s Konsa and Bayer Leverkusen’s Quansah, both versatile players capable of operating as right-backs or center-backs.

While Arteta declined to comment on specific players, he reiterated the club's ambition, stating, "It is big that we want to improve the squad, we want to evolve the squad, in order to achieve."

He also hinted at potential player departures, noting the excitement surrounding transfer activity. Players like Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Fabio Vieira have been linked with moves away from the club.

Arteta provided updates on Timber and Saliba, indicating Timber is progressing well, with hopes he could return soon, while Saliba’s injury remains more prolonged. "Jurrien [Timber] is progressing really well... but there is still a few weeks to go," he said, underscoring Timber’s importance to the team.