Ferdinand says Arteta has a 'huge problem' with Saliba and Konsa
Rio Ferdinand believes Mikel Arteta is facing a selection headache at the heart of Arsenal's defence, with William Saliba closing in on a return just as Ezri Konsa continues to impress in his absence.
Saliba has not featured for Arsenal this season after returning from last summer's World Cup with a back injury, though he avoided surgery and was included in the matchday squad for the Champions League clash against Slavia Prague. He is expected to be available for selection after the November international break.
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In the meantime, Konsa has made a seamless transition into Arteta's back four since his £55m move from Aston Villa last summer, helping Arsenal open up a five point gap at the top of the Premier League and go unbeaten in the early stages of the Champions League.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand did not hold back on the scale of the decision facing Arteta once Saliba is fully fit again.
“Mikel Arteta has got a problem, he's got a huge problem now,” Ferdinand said. “What is he going to do when William Saliba is fit? Ezri Konsa has come into that back four and he looks like he's been there for ten years. He looks like an immovable object in that team. That's what it feels like because he's just slid in there and taken that place. He looks dominant, aggressive and accustomed to wearing the Arsenal shirt. He looks like he belongs there. But let's not forget about Saliba and what he was doing when he was in the team. It's a problem but it's a problem that I hope Mikel Arteta will enjoy because he's got two top centre backs vying to be in the team. It's a good position to be in. I think we will see Konsa sometimes playing right back.”
Ferdinand sticking with pre-season prediction
Ferdinand also reiterated his belief that Arsenal will retain the Premier League title this season, a prediction he made before a ball was kicked.
“I thought they would win it anyway. I said that before a ball was kicked,” the six time Premier League winner added. “But the way Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are playing, everyone is doing their best not to even challenge at the moment. Arsenal are finding ways to win football matches without playing their best football and that spells trouble for the rest of the teams. If you're winning games ugly, imagine when you click and hit form. The defence and midfield is top tier. The level drops off a bit in the forward areas, especially with Bukayo Saka not being there, but they look strong.”
Arsenal head into the international break off the back of a narrow 1-0 win over Hull City, settled by a second half Martin Odegaard goal. Arteta admitted there was still room for improvement, telling reporters: “We can still be much better, and we will improve in many phases, and we will get certain relationships to a different level that will be even more efficient. That's the next step, to have bigger margins and when we have them, the opportunities, put them away to make sure that we don't have to hang in there the last few minutes.”
Arsenal return to Premier League action after the break with a trip to St James' Park to face Newcastle United, a fixture that may offer the first real clue as to how Arteta intends to manage his options at centre back.
