Arsenal step up push for defensive cover with Timber and Saliba sidelined

• Fresh bid expected for Villa’s Konsa

• Arteta says existing players need to improve

Arsenal are stepping up their efforts to sign defensive cover for William Saliba after Mikel Arteta revealed that Jurriën Timber is well away from returning to competitive action. Saliba will be out for an extended period after breaking down during the World Cup with a back injury.

After Arsenal lost a second successive friendly when Borussia Dortmund won 3-2 on Sunday to lift the Emirates Cup in a performance that featured several defensive mistakes, Arteta would not be drawn on when the France defender is expected to return, but said it would take “some time to heal”.