- Arsenal have agreed a £51m deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. Here's why Arteta wanted him and how he could strengthen Arsenal's defence.
Arsenal has strengthened their defense further by adding Ezri Konsa to the team. Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Aston Villa to sign Ezri Konsa, according to David Ornstein, with the deal worth £51 million plus add-ons.
Why Arsenal wanted Ezri Konsa
The arrival of the English international will increase the number of center-back options available to Mikel Arteta for the new season to six, including Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Mosquera, and Calafiori. Bringing a player like Konza, who excels in both center back and right back roles, shows the ambition of Arteta's side to win back-to-back Premier League titles and conquer the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
The timing of the move could be particularly important, with William Saliba sidelined by a back injury and Jurriën Timber dealing with a groin problem. Konsa's ability to cover both positions could give Arteta some much-needed flexibility during the opening weeks.
What does Konsa bring to Arsenal's defense?
He is a quick and physically strong defender who could adapt to systems that employ a high line and mid-block as well as excel in ball carrying. That doesn’t rule out the possibility of Konsa playing in the Champions League, but players with recurring injury issues can be rested for key games while Konsa is available.
The player is an athletic profile, so he could adapt to systems with a high line and midblock along with outstanding ball-carrying. Apart from that, he has shown excellent qualities in both aerial and ground duels, averaging a 67.1% success rate in duels per 90, according to FotMob. The 28-year-old also excels in both short passes and long passes, as he averages 95.5% and 61.0%, respectively, per 90 (via FotMob).
How Konsa could change Arsenal's defensive depth
Konsa's arrival gives Arteta considerably more defensive flexibility. With six senior center-back options and the ability to use Konsa at right-back, Arsenal now have greater protection against injuries and fixture congestion across the Premier League and Champions League.