Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that his team is not defensively weak but admits that they must improve when it comes to defending set-pieces.

The club have been linked with a host of centre-halves this summer, with Gary Cahill and Christopher Samba thought to be top of Wenger’s list of defensive targets, but only young Carl Jenkinson has been brought in at the back.

Wenger told the club’s official website: “I don’t think we are weak defensively but we are an offensive team.

“Sometimes that exposes our defenders a bit more than other teams.”

The Frenchman pointed to the long-term absence of Belgian central defender Thomas Vermaelen as a factor in the Gunners’ occasionally leaky defence last season.

“I believe we have quality defenders,” insisted Wenger.

“One is Thomas Vermaelen and he did not play last year.

“In open play, we were one of the better defences but we conceded too many goals on set-pieces and that is where we want to improve this season.”