Gary Neville believes Arsenal’s extraordinary defensive depth could be the key factor in retaining the Premier League title, with the former Manchester United defender particularly impressed by the signing of Ezri Konsa.
Mikel Arteta already had one of the strongest defensive groups in England, but Arsenal still moved to bring Konsa from Aston Villa this summer.
Neville feels that decision demonstrates how determined the Gunners are to maintain an advantage over Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Arsenal defence is ‘better than everyone else’
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, Neville praised Arsenal for strengthening an area that was already packed with quality.
“It’s incredible what Arsenal have done really, to sign Ezri Konsa, because they’ve got [Jurrien] Timber, [Ben] White, [Cristhian] Mosquera, [William] Saliba, Gabriel [Magalhaes], [Piero] Hincapie, [Riccardo] Calafiori, [Myles] Lewis-Skelly,” he said.
“They’ve already got eight amazing defenders and now they’ve signed another really good centre-half.
“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. That will win them a title again.
“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. From a defensive perspective or in midfield, you’d swap all of them.”
GOAL also reported Neville’s belief that Arsenal’s defensive superiority separates them from their biggest Premier League rivals.
Arsenal officially completed Konsa’s move from Aston Villa for a reported £55m including add-ons, according to Reuters. His versatility also gives Arteta cover while William Saliba and Jurrien Timber deal with injury problems.
Gunners will be favourites to win the Premier League
Neville’s argument is difficult to dismiss.
Arsenal did not necessarily need another defender, but signing Konsa means an injury to one or two players should no longer dramatically weaken their back line.
That depth becomes particularly important across a long season involving the Premier League and Champions League.
The bigger point is that Arsenal are strengthening an area where they were already arguably better than their rivals. United, Liverpool and Chelsea may possess comparable attacking talent, but Arsenal’s defensive options currently look deeper and more reliable.
Konsa may not be the glamorous attacking signing supporters expected this summer, yet his arrival could prove just as important.
If Arsenal defend with the same consistency as last season, Neville may ultimately be right: their refusal to compromise defensively could be what delivers another league title.
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