Alan Shearer has named Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa as his early Premier League Player of the Season, praising the summer signing for the impact he has made since arriving from Aston Villa.
Konsa joined Arsenal in a reported £55 million deal and has quickly become an important part of Mikel Arteta’s defence. His performances have helped the Gunners maintain an impressive start to the campaign, with the England international stepping in during William Saliba’s absence.
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Shearer impressed by Konsa’s defensive performances
Shearer believes Konsa has been so effective that Arsenal’s defence has rarely looked unsettled without Saliba. Speaking to Betfair, the former Newcastle United striker singled out the centre-back as the standout performer in the league so far.
“I think the player of the season up to now has been Ezri Konsa.”
Shearer added that Saliba’s absence had barely dominated the conversation because of the standard Konsa has maintained. The French defender’s potential return has only recently become a talking point, with attention turning to how Arteta will fit both players into his side.
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Arteta faces a selection decision when Saliba returns
Konsa’s form has created a difficult decision for Arteta. Saliba has been one of Arsenal’s most important defenders in recent seasons, but Konsa has made a strong case to keep his place alongside Gabriel Magalhães.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has also highlighted the dilemma. He praised Konsa’s adaptation to the team and suggested that the defender could even be used at right-back on some occasions, giving Arteta another way to accommodate his strongest centre-backs.
For Arsenal, the competition could prove useful as the season progresses. The manager will have to weigh Saliba’s quality and experience against Konsa’s current form when both are available.
Shearer identifies Brighton as Arsenal’s main title rival
Shearer also gave his view on the Premier League title race, identifying Brighton as the team he expects to provide Arsenal with the strongest challenge. He questioned whether Liverpool and Chelsea are ready to sustain a title push, describing both clubs as sides that still have work to do.
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Brighton’s strong start has caught his attention, and Shearer believes their performances could keep them in contention for much of the campaign. He did, however, acknowledge that their European commitments may become a factor as the season develops.
Arsenal are due to return from the international break with a trip to Newcastle United. Konsa’s performances have given Arteta a welcome selection headache, but the bigger test will be maintaining the defensive consistency that has helped the Gunners establish themselves at the top end of the table.
