Gary Neville believes Arsenal’s defensive strength could prove decisive in their bid to retain the Premier League title, with the former Manchester United defender singling out the signing of Ezri Konsa as evidence of their ambition.
Mikel Arteta’s side already possessed one of the deepest back lines in English football before recruiting the Aston Villa defender in a deal worth up to £55 million. Neville believes the move has further widened the gap between Arsenal and their principal rivals.
Gary Neville praises Arsenal’s defensive depth
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former England international listed the options available to Arteta, including Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
“It’s incredible what Arsenal have done really, to sign Ezri Konsa, because they’ve got Timber, White, Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly,” Neville said.
“They’ve already got eight amazing defenders and now they’ve signed another really good centre-half.”
Konsa, who has signed a four-year contract with the option of a further season, gives Arsenal additional cover at centre-back and right-back. His arrival is particularly valuable while Saliba and Timber contend with injury problems.
Neville argued that Arsenal’s recruitment underlines a deliberate decision to strengthen the area in which they are already strongest, rather than simply pursuing more attacking firepower.
“It’s almost like they’re doubling down and saying, ‘We’re not going to concede goals, we’re just going to make sure we’re better than everyone else defensively by a million miles’ – and they are,” he said. “That will win them a title again.”
The pundit suggested Arsenal’s forward line would compare favourably with those of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, but believed the balance changed when assessing the midfield and defence.
“If you were to ask if you’d swap Arsenal’s front players for United’s, Liverpool’s, Chelsea’s, you might actually keep the front players,” Neville said. “From a defensive perspective or in midfield, you’d swap all of them.”
Arsenal’s defensive depth is likely to be tested across a campaign involving both the Premier League and Champions League. The club’s decision to spend heavily on Konsa, despite already having several established defenders, reflects the importance Arteta places on maintaining consistency over a long season.
Konsa may not have been the most eye-catching attacking addition, but Neville believes the England international’s versatility and experience could be central to Arsenal’s hopes of securing another league title.
