Ezri Konsa: No problem without William Saliba, new defender

Ezri Konsa: No problem without William Saliba, new defender

According to Bbc.

Context

Ezri Konsa, signed by Arsenal from Aston Villa, has become a key player in the club's defence. His successful performances in the Premier League highlight the importance of making the right decisions in the transfer market and the emphasis on developing players within the team.

Why is this important

The signing of Ezri Konsa was an important move for Arsenal given the injury to William Saliba. His solid defensive play allows the team to maintain their lead in the Premier League despite the absence of a key player. It also demonstrates the club's changed strategy, which is focused on acquiring experienced players in the prime of their careers.

Key takeaways

• Ezri Konsa: No problem without William Saliba, new defender.
• Ezri Konsa confidently replaced William Saliba at Arsenal, producing excellent results and forming a reliable defensive pairing with Gabriel.
• Ezri Konsa: No William Saliba, no problem, as summer signing steps up for Arsenal - BBC Sport.

When Arsenal announced in July that William Saliba would be out for an "extended period" with a serious back injury, fans were understandably worried. The Frenchman formed a powerful pairing with Gabriel Magalhaes in a well-organized Gunners defense that conceded just 27 league goals last season to win the title. Eight games into the new season and Saliba is still missing, but Mikel Arteta's side have conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League and are tied for first place. This form was made possible by the performances of Ezri Konsa, who took over duties in Saliba's absence and got his chance to shine.

Before Arsenal signed the 29-year-old defender for £55m from Aston Villa in August, questions were asked: "Isn't that too much money? Do Arsenal need him with Crisfian Mosquera already in the team? Why sign Konsa and not a striker?" But now the debate is about whether Konsa and Gabrielle are the best pairing in the world, not just the Premier League.

Arsenal already had seven experienced defenders under contract when they signed Konsa. And given that they already had one of the most reliable pairings of defenders in the world, you can understand why there would be doubts about such a big spend. Arsenal have changed their recruitment strategy, focusing on signings in the prime of their careers to take advantage of their window of opportunity and continue to win trophies.Konsa is exactly the player they were looking for - he is in his best form. The defender made 286 appearances for Villa after joining from Brentford in July 2019 and helped the club win the Europa League in May, the club's first European trophy since 1982.

He established himself as a first-team regular for England and started seven of their eight World Cup matches. His former Aston Villa team-mate Morgan Rodgers, who also signed a big deal when he joined Chelsea for £117m, said at the World Cup that Konsa was not getting enough recognition and that he was "one of the best centre-backs in football". Konsa is an imposing figure who moves quickly around the field and his aggressive fighting style has impressed fans.

After signing on the opening day of the season, Arteta praised the defender's quick integration into the squad, calling it "incredible". "He came to a big club like Arsenal without pre-season training, with Saliba here, with other players already in the team," Arteta added of Konsa's start. "To take that position with such naturalness and produce that level of play while creating a chemistry and balance with Gab that seems so solid is very difficult. We're really lucky to have him."

The statistics back up Arteta's words.Individually, Konsa had the best pass success rate of any player in the Premier League last season and is top again with a 96% pass success rate this season. He also has the highest success rate of all Premier League outfield players who contested 20 or more challenges last season and now ranks 12th for that percentage in 2026-27.

Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in five of their eight matches and no team has kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season. Konsa started six of those matches, signing just hours before their first match against Coventry, and made his debut in the second match against his former side Villa after Mosquera's injury. "Both [Saliba and Gabriel] were in the list of best defenders at the Ballon d'Or," former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said on Match of the Day. "He wasn't overshadowed by the players he played with."

Konsa also impressed when he scored his first goal for Arsenal against Everton on Saturday. "I've been coming to this stadium for many seasons, I know how difficult it is to play against us. It's not surprising to me," Konsa said of Arsenal's strong start to the season. "We are champions and to be champions you need to win games consistently. This is our home and we want to win as many games as possible here." Nine starts, seven wins, five clean sheets, two goals between them - the pairing of Consa and Gabriel look very confident. Both scored as the Gunners beat Everton, and it was the first time Arsenal have seen two centre-backs score in the same Premier League match since February 2024, which incidentally also happened against David Moyes' side (Gabriel and Saliba against West Ham).

Konsa has also started all three of Arsenal's Champions League matches and the Gunners remain unbeaten as the powerhouse pair continue to develop. The English international said Gabriel had made "my life easier since I arrived at the club and he is a pleasure to play with." Gabriel's regular partner Saliba still doesn't know when he will return but is currently undergoing individual training on the grass. When asked if the pressure on Saliba had eased with his return, Arteta was keen to remind everyone of his quality. "William is out of form and we are desperate for him to come back because we know what he has to offer," he said. “We're really lucky to have this and I'm sure when Mosquera plays he'll be the same because these guys have something special. The way we train them, the way they want to develop and the way they look after each other - that's the beauty of our team." The next challenge for Konsa is the return of Saliba.But thanks to his ability to play as a right-back, he has more options for inclusion in the first team.

What happens next

Given Konsa's current form, he can be expected to continue performing at a high level while Saliba recovers. Arsenal may be looking at further strengthening in their defensive line ahead of the winter transfer window. The next matches will show whether Konsa can maintain his form and help the team fight for the title.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ezri Konsa?

Ezri Konsa is a defender who has signed a contract with Arsenal.

Which club is Ezri Konsa signed from?

Ezri Konsa was signed by Arsenal from Aston Villa.

Why did Arsenal sign Ezri Konsa?

Arsenal have signed Ezri Konsa to strengthen their defense in the absence of William Saliba.

What is the transfer fee for Ezri Konsa?

Ezri Konsa was signed for £55 million.

When did Ezri Konsa sign for Arsenal?

Ezri Konsa signed with Arsenal in August.

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