Arsenal fans have called on Unai Emery to sign a new defender following Sunday's pre-season defeat against Barcelona .
Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a comical own goal as the Gunners ended their preparations for the new campaign with a 2-1 loss against the Spanish champions in the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's excellent first-half strike gave the Premier League club the lead at the Camp Nou, Emery's side handed their opponents an equaliser through the defender's mistake.
The 21-year-old passed the ball beyond goalkeeper Bernd Leno into his own net before former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez completed the turnaround for Ernesto Valverde's side with a late strike.
The error was the latest example of the defensive issues which have troubled the Gunners throughout Emery's time in charge.
The north London club conceded 51 league goals during the Spaniard's first season at the Emirates as they missed out on Champions League football.
Emery was understood to have made improving his defence a priority during the current transfer window while parting ways with the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, whose time with the club has been characterised by a number of poor displays.
However, the Arsenal boss has yet to add any new defenders to his squad for the coming campaign, with the exception of 18-year-old William Saliba, who will spend the season on loan at Saint-Etienne.
And defeat against Barcelona prompted fresh calls among fans for the club to make improvements to the back-line before the club's trip to Newcastle on Sunday.
"If there's anything like a sign from God, then conceding a goal Immediately Mustafi was subbed on should be a clear one that Arsenal needs to sign a defender(s) to replace him ASAP," tweeted one supporter.
Another shared that sentiment, writing: "Arsenal defence exposed again against Barcelona. When will Unai Emery buy new defender? Am tired of Mustafi and Niles [sic]. Two of them na [sic] calamity."
A third continued: "Needed a defender and a LB when the season ended. Still need them with five days left in the window. Get to it Arsenal."
Meanwhile a fourth suggested a potential addition to the squad, adding: "Arsenal should sign Gary Cahill ASAP he’s better than every defender at the club."
