Ferdinand says Konsa now an 'immovable object' as Saliba nears return
Rio Ferdinand believes Mikel Arteta is facing a selection headache at centre back, declaring that Ezri Konsa has made himself undroppable just as William Saliba returns from injury.
Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Hull City before the international break, with captain Martin Odegaard's goal enough to secure a ninth victory in ten league games this season. It was also the club's seventh clean sheet of the campaign, with three of the five goals conceded all coming in a single match against second placed Brighton.
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That defensive record has held firm despite Saliba's absence, largely because of how smoothly the £55m summer signing from Aston Villa has settled into the back four. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand did not hold back in his praise for Konsa's impact.
“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.”
A crowded defence
Jurrien Timber and Ben White remain firmly established options at right back, which complicates any plan to shift Konsa out wide. Former Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton scout Bryan King, speaking to Football Insider, offered an alternative solution, suggesting Gabriel Magalhaes could make way instead due to questions over his “attitude”.
“You're going to have to work. No place in football as it was in my day. You're not guaranteed,” King said. “There's always somebody that could take your place. Now at Arsenal, you've got international players challenging for one position. Or different positions on the pitch. You've got Gabriel, who again is a very fine defensive player. There are question marks about him, about his attitude at times. Which again, has been something that for me has been brought into the game. Play acting about injuries.”
Gabriel has been one of Arsenal's most consistent performers over the last two seasons, forming a defensive spine alongside Declan Rice that underpinned last season's title win. Whatever the merits of King's comments on gamesmanship, there is little statistical or performance based evidence to suggest the Brazilian's place in the side is under genuine threat.
What is clear is that Arteta now has four senior centre backs, Saliba, Gabriel, Konsa and White's versatility, all capable of competing for two starting berths. How he manages that competition for places once Saliba is fully match fit will be one of the more interesting subplots of Arsenal's season as the Gunners look to maintain their lead at the top of the table.
