Arsenal are actively scouting for a new centre‑back this summer after a serious injury to William Saliba has forced the Gunners to consider their defensive options. Saliba, who escaped surgery despite a back injury sustained during France's World Cup semi‑final loss to Spain, now faces a protracted rehabilitation period that could keep him out for an extended spell. In response, the club have turned their attention to two English internationals – John Stones and Ezri Konsa – both of whom could potentially fill the void left by Saliba.
John Stones is currently a free agent after his contract with Manchester City expired last month. The seasoned England defender, who spent a decade at the Etihad and collected a haul of 17 trophies including six Premier League titles, is reportedly also being pursued by Chelsea. His familiarity with Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, adds an extra layer of intrigue.
Stones previously worked with Arteta while the latter served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City, and Arteta has publicly praised his qualities on several occasions. In 2020, when Arsenal were rumored to be interested in signing him, Arteta said, "John is a player I really like. We followed him before we signed him when I was at City. I worked with him for many years.
I know him well and when I look at centre‑backs, he has many attributes that I like." This endorsement underscores the mutual respect between the two and explains why Stones is high on Arsenal’s shortlist. Stones brings a wealth of experience and a proven record at the highest level. He featured in five matches for England at the World Cup, demonstrating that he can perform under pressure and maintain fitness in a demanding tournament. Moreover, his availability on a free transfer makes him an attractive short‑term solution for covering Saliba’s absence.
However, his injury history cannot be ignored. Over the past two seasons he managed only 439 Premier League minutes in 2022‑23 and 547 minutes in 2021‑22, plagued by thigh, calf and other muscular problems. Throughout his ten‑year spell at City, he never played more than 59% of the league minutes in any season, raising concerns about his durability. Ezri Konsa offers a contrasting profile.
The 28‑year‑old Aston Villa defender, who also represented England at the World Cup alongside Stones, is four years younger and currently has two years left on his contract. Unlike Stones, Konsa has a reputation for robustness and consistency, having started at least 33 league games in each of the last five seasons for Villa.
He has not suffered any major injuries, which makes him a reliable option for a club seeking stability at the back. Konsa is comfortable on the ball, adept at playing out from defence, and can cope with pressure from opponents – traits that align with Arteta’s philosophy of building from the back. Statistically, Konsa excels in one‑on‑one defensive duels.
Opta data from the previous Premier League season recorded him as having the highest ground‑duel success rate of any outfield player, winning 73% of his contests. This aggressive, combative style could be exactly what Arsenal need to add steel to their defensive line. He primarily operates as a right‑sided centre‑back, mirroring Saliba’s position, but also displayed versatility by covering at right‑back during the World Cup. Both Stones and Konsa can also be deployed in that role if required, providing tactical flexibility.
Financially, the two targets present very different scenarios. Stones, being out of contract, would join Arsenal on a free transfer, meaning the club would only need to negotiate personal terms and possibly a signing‑on fee. In contrast, Konsa is valued at around £60 million by Aston Villa, a figure that reflects his age, consistency, and market demand. Signing Konsa would therefore require a significant outlay, especially given Arsenal’s existing defensive roster, which already includes the permanent signing of Piero Hincapié (converted from a loan spell), Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber, and Ben White.
Arsenal’s current defensive depth is further bolstered by the return of Ben White from a knee injury sustained in May and Jurrien Timber’s optimism about a near‑future comeback from a groin problem. While these players are expected to be fit soon, the club’s hierarchy appears to prefer having a contingency plan in place, especially given the unpredictable nature of injuries. Beyond the immediate practicalities, there are strategic considerations.
Arsenal’s scouting data, using Twenty3’s player similarity tool, shows that neither Stones nor Konsa rank among the ten most stylistically similar players to Saliba across Europe’s top leagues. The tool highlights Inter’s Manuel Akanji, former City defender Kojo Peprah‑Oppong of Nice, and Como’s Jacobo Ramón as the closest matches, with similarity scores around 97%. In the Premier League, only Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City’s Ruben Dias appear in the top ten, each with a 94% similarity rating.
While this suggests that both English options differ from Saliba’s playing style, their individual strengths could still complement Arsenal’s defensive setup. In summary, Arsenal’s pursuit of John Stones and Ezri Konsa reflects a blend of short‑term pragmatism and long‑term planning. Stones offers a free‑transfer, experienced defender familiar with Arteta’s methods, albeit with a concerning injury record. Konsa provides durability, impressive duel statistics, and the ability to play in multiple defensive positions, but at a substantially higher price tag.
The final decision will likely hinge on Arsenal’s assessment of their immediate defensive needs, budget constraints, and the desire to maintain a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts while awaiting Saliba’s full recovery.