Saliba may struggle to dislodge Konsa on Arsenal return, says Ferdinand

William Saliba might have a hard time to return into Arsenal’s beginning XI when he goes back to complete physical fitness, provided the extremely excellent type of current finalizing Ezri Konsa.

That is the view of previous Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who thinks Konsa’s shift given that showing up from Aston Villa has actually been smooth.

Saliba has actually been sidelined because suffering a back injury throughout France’s defeat to Spain worldwide Cup semi-finals, though he bet Arsenal’s under-21s last weekend as he nears a return.

With Konsa signing up with the Premier League champs and slotting in along with Gabriel Magalhaes, Mikel Arteta’s side have actually hardly discovered Saliba’s lack.

Toolbox boast a five-point lead over Brighton at the top of the table, having actually won 9 of their very first 10 Premier League matches, and their protective record has actually been absolutely nothing except terrifying.

The Gunners have actually yielded the least objectives (5), quit the most affordable anticipated objectives versus figure (7.6 xGA), dealt with the least shots on target (26) and enabled their challengers the most affordable xG figure per shot (0.7) and discussion rate (4.5%) amongst all Premier League sides.

Konsa has actually appeared in 9 of their video games, making the joint-most interceptions amongst their team (9, along with Gabriel and Declan Rice) and winning belongings 32 times– just Rice (35 times) has actually recuperated the ball regularly.

Konsa will miss out on England’s conference with Croatia on Thursday however might return from a small knock in time to deal with Spain on Sunday, and if the 29-year-old stays fit, Ferdinand feels Arteta will discover it challenging to drop him.

Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel: “Mikel Arteta has actually got a substantial issue now. What is he going to do when Saliba is fit?

“Because Konsa has actually entered into that back 4 and stated, ‘I have actually been here for 10 years and I am the unmovable item now,’ that’s what it seems like.

Another leading screen. Another tidy sheet. In Focus: Ezri Konsa edition
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 9, 2026

“He has actually simply moved in there and stated, ‘that is my area, it is mine now’. He has actually made some desperate deals with to keep them in video games and to assist them win video games.

“He looks dominant, aggressive, and he looks familiar with using the Arsenal t-shirt. He appears like he is suggested to be there, however let’s not forget Saliba and what he was doing when he remained in the group, how fantastic he looked.

“This is a problem, but it is a problem that Mikel Arteta, I hope, will enjoy – to have two top centre-backs vying to play in that team, who are performing at their best at the moment, and arguably your best one is not in there… what a position to be in.”

Arsenal go to Newcastle United for their very first video game back after the worldwide break, on November 21, before hosting Manchester City in a big clash in between title equals the following week.