Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has reportedly weighed in on the debate surrounding Arsenal’s new defensive signing Ezri Konsa and William Saliba, with the former England captain insisting that Konsa cannot surpass the French defender at his best.
Arsenal completed the signing of Konsa from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window as Mikel Arteta looked to strengthen his defensive options. The England international arrived after several impressive seasons at Villa Park and was brought in partly because of Saliba’s injury situation.
Konsa has already attracted plenty of attention since moving to the Emirates Stadium. His experience in the Premier League, physical strength and ability to defend in one-on-one situations have made him an important option for Arteta.
However, the arrival of Konsa has also created an interesting debate over the future role of Saliba when the Frenchman returns to full fitness.
Rooney’s reported view is that there should be little doubt about who remains Arsenal’s first-choice centre-back.
The former England captain is understood to rate Saliba extremely highly and believes the French defender possesses qualities that make him difficult to replace. Saliba’s pace, composure, positioning and ability to defend large spaces have made him one of Arsenal’s most important players since establishing himself under Arteta.
Arsenal’s decision to sign Konsa was not necessarily a reflection of concerns about Saliba’s ability. Instead, the move gave Arteta greater depth and competition in a position that has become increasingly important to the club.
Konsa, meanwhile, has plenty of qualities of his own. He has developed into an experienced Premier League defender and has earned recognition for his defensive intelligence, recovery pace and strength.
His versatility is another major advantage. The defender is capable of operating centrally and has also played at right-back, giving Arteta additional tactical options during a demanding campaign.
There have already been discussions about whether Konsa could make it difficult for Saliba to immediately reclaim his place in the starting XI. Chelsea legend John Terry previously made exactly that argument, suggesting that Konsa could keep Saliba out of the Arsenal team even after the Frenchman returned to fitness.
That debate, however, remains open.
Arsenal have continued to rely heavily on their defensive structure, and Saliba has been widely regarded as a key part of the team’s success. Recent analysis has also highlighted how Arsenal have maintained a strong defensive record despite beginning the campaign without the Frenchman.
For Rooney, the argument would ultimately come down to the different qualities possessed by both defenders. Konsa can provide experience, physicality and competition, but Saliba’s combination of speed, technical ability and composure gives him a unique profile.
The competition could therefore become one of the most interesting selection battles at Arsenal once Saliba is available again.
Arteta now has several high-quality central defenders at his disposal, including Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Konsa and other defensive options. That competition could be particularly valuable as Arsenal attempt to compete across the Premier League and European competitions.
Whether Konsa eventually becomes a permanent starter remains to be seen. What appears certain is that his arrival has increased the quality and depth of Arsenal’s defence.
For supporters, the biggest question may not be whether Konsa is a good enough defender, but whether Arteta can find a way to give all his best centre-backs meaningful roles.
If Rooney’s reported assessment is accurate, however, he sees Saliba as the defender who remains ahead of Konsa when both players are at their best.
