Konsa is an imposing figure, quick across the ground, and his aggression in challenges has impressed supporters.<\/p>\n
Having signed on the opening day of the season, Arteta has praised the way the centre-back has settled in as “unbelievable”.<\/p>\n
“He’s gone to a huge club like Arsenal<\/a> with no pre-season when Saliba is here, with other players that are already here,” Arteta added of Konsa’s start. <\/p>\n “To position yourself in that manner, with that naturality I would say, and performing at the level that he’s doing and building already a chemistry and a balance with Gabi that seems so solid, it’s very difficult to do and we are really lucky to have him.”<\/p>\n The stats back up Arteta’s claim.<\/p>\n Individually, Konsa had the best pass-completion rate of any player in the Premier League last season and he tops the chart again this season with 96% success rate from his 324 passes.<\/p>\n He also ranked top for success rate among all Premier League outfielders to contest 20 or more ground duels during the last campaign and is currently ranked 12th for this in 2026-27.<\/p>\n Arsenal<\/a> have kept a clean sheet in five of their eight games, with no team keeping more in the Premier League this season.<\/p>\n After joining just hours before their season-opener against Coventry<\/a>, Konsa has started six of those matches, while he came on for his debut in their second match against former club Villa after Mosquera picked up an injury.<\/p>\n “The two of them [Saliba and Gabriel] were on the Ballon D’or list as the best defenders in world football,” Former Arsenal<\/a> defender Martin Keown said on Match of the Day.<\/p>\n “He has not been overshadowed at all by the people he has played alongside.”<\/p>\n And Konsa produced another impressive performance when he scored his first goal for Arsenal<\/a> against Everton<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n