Inside Arsenal's Ezri Konsa transfer and the phone calls that won over Mikel Arteta
Ezri Konsa is a 'plug-and-play' signing for Arsenal(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Level-headed Ezri Konsa has no qualms putting former allegiances to one side. Otherwise, he would never have signed for Arsenal in the first place.
The no-nonsense defender was actually a boyhood Tottenham supporter that idolised Ledley King, who also came through the ranks at Konsa's Forest Gate-based Sunday League side Senrab in east London.
Sol Campbell and John Terry were once on their books too and since the 28-year-old sealed his statement £55million transfer to the Premier League champions, Terry has made quite the claim.
He feels that even when William Saliba (back injury) is fit again, the Frenchman will struggle to displace the England international in Mikel Arteta's starting XI.
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The Spaniard indicated on Thursday that he's willing to throw Konsa straight into the lions' den at Villa Park tomorrow night.
Arteta has no real reason to shuffle his pack following an emphatic 3-0 opening-day drubbing of Coventry City but Arsenal believe they've acquired a 'plug-and-play' signing, ready for the here and now.
When the Gunners boss made various phone calls to industry contacts to obtain further information on Konsa, the feedback was resounding.
There's a sense within footballing circles that he's been criminally underrated for quite some time. Not now.
Last season, rock-solid Konsa helped fire Villa to Europa League glory in Istanbul before becoming a mainstay for England at the World Cup under Thomas Tuchel.
The data, in the early stages of Arsenal's transfer pursuit, was also convincing.
Ezri Konsa could make his Arsenal debut against Aston Villa(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Of all the players that played at least 500 minutes in the top-flight last season, versatile centre-back Konsa had the highest pass-completion rate. When it came to percentage of ground duels won, he also topped the pile.
Dean Smith, who first brought him to Brentford from Charlton Athletic before later signing him at Villa, describes his ex-player as a "Rolls Royce."
Not only is he a top competitor but he has the attitude and experience to match his ability.
During the European Championships in 2024, he struck a unique bond with Bukayo Saka as the pair sharpened their tools against one another during private one-vs-one drills.
Saka later claimed Konsa had "made him better," and their brotherhood is so strong, Konsa actually FaceTimed the winner as he paraded around Birmingham on Villa's open-top bus following continental glory in May.
Ezri Konsa is ready to make a splash at Arsenal(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
There is now a buzz around London Colney about his arrival. Signing for Arsenal was a no-brainer and Konsa is still likely to receive a warm reception when he returns to Villa Park, even if he'll now be situated in the away dressing room.
Arsenal's first-team physical performance coach Toby Griffiths is the man tasked with rebuilding Konsa's condition.
Unai Emery insisted that his former player had four full weeks of rest after the World Cup, costing him the chance to participate in the UEFA Super Cup final against PSG.
Konsa still worked away behind the scenes but he's not played any competitive football since England's pulsating 6-4 third-place play-off victory over France in Miami on July 18. Still, don't be surprised if he's thrown straight in against Villa.
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