Arsenal have maintained their defensive solidity despite the prolonged absence of William Saliba, thanks to the impressive form of Ezri Konsa. Saliba, who helped Arsenal concede a league-low 27 goals en route to lifting the Premier League title last season, has missed the first eight games due to a long-term back issue sustained in July. Even without the Frenchman, Mikel Arteta's side sit level on points at the summit with the division's best defensive record and five clean sheets. Konsa punctuated his strong start by netting his first Arsenal goal during Saturday's win over Everton.
Signed from Aston Villa for £55m just hours before the curtain-raiser against Coventry, the 29-year-old arrived when Arsenal already boasted seven senior defenders, including Cristhian Mosquera. Yet Konsa, who helped Villa win the Europa League in May across 286 appearances, has justified the transfer. After recording the Premier League's top pass-completion rate last season, the England starter leads the metric again with a 96% success rate from 324 passes. Former Villa teammate Morgan Rogers previously described him as "one of the best centre-backs in football," an assessment Konsa continues to validate.
Konsa's central-defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes has yielded seven wins and five clean sheets across nine starts, alongside an unbeaten record in three Champions League outings. Against Everton, Gabriel marked his 200th Premier League appearance with his 21st competition goal, joining Konsa on the scoresheet. Former Gunners defender Martin Keown highlighted that Konsa has "not been overshadowed at all" playing next to Ballon d'Or nominee Gabriel, while Arteta praised Konsa's transition, balance, and chemistry as "unbelievable" given his lack of a pre-season.
Looking ahead, Saliba has resumed individual training on grass, but Arteta confirmed the club has no set return date for the defender they remain "desperate to have back." While Saliba's recovery will eventually create intense competition for starting spots, Konsa's demonstrated versatility at right-back gives Arsenal key tactical depth. For now, Konsa remains focused on sustaining momentum, noting: "We are champions and to be champions you've got to win games consistently."