Rio Ferdinand claims Mikel Arteta has a ‘huge problem’ at Arsenal | Football

Rio Ferdinand says the return of William Saliba will create a ‘problem’ for Arsenal given the impressive form of summer signing Ezri Konsa.

Saliba is closing in on a long-awaited return from injury, having featured in Arsenal’s matchday squad for their Champions League clash against Slavia Prague last week.

The 25-year-old centre-back is yet to feature for the Gunners this season after returning from last summer’s World Cup with a back injury.

Saliba was able to avoid surgery and will hope to return to action following the November international break, though whether he will immediately displace Konsa remains to be seen.

The England international has enjoyed a superb start to his Arsenal career following a £55m move from Aston Villa last summer, helping Mikel Arteta’s side open up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier League and go unbeaten in the early stages of the Champions League.

Ferdinand recently admitted he wished his former club Manchester United had signed Konsa and says he looks like an ‘immovable object’ in the Arsenal team.

‘Mikel Arteta has got a problem, he’s got a huge problem now,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘What is he going to do when William Saliba is fit? Ezri Konsa has come into that back-four and he looks like he’s been there for ten years.

‘He looks like an immovable object in that team. That’s what it feels like because he’s just slid in there and taken that place. He looks dominant, aggressive and accustomed to wearing the Arsenal shirt.

‘He looks like he belongs there. But let’s not forget about Saliba and what he was doing when he was in the team. It’s a problem but it’s a problem that I hope Mikel Arteta will enjoy because he’s got two top centre-backs vying to be in the team.

‘It’s a good position to be in. I think we will see Konsa sometimes playing right-back.’

Ferdinand backed Arsenal to retain the Premier League trophy before a ball was kicked and has seen nothing so far that would force him to reconsider his pre-season prediction.

‘I thought they would win it anyway. I said that before a ball was kicked,’ the six-time Premier League winner added.

‘But the way Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are playing… everyone is doing their best not to even challenge at the moment.

‘Arsenal are finding ways to win football matches without playing their best football and that spells trouble for the rest of the teams. If you’re winning games ugly, imagine when you click and hit form.

‘The defence and midfield is top tier. The level drops off a bit in the forward areas, especially with Bukayo Saka not being there, but they look strong.’

Martin Odegaard’s second-half goal earned Arsenal a narrow 1-0 win over Hull City in their final match before the November international break.

Arteta was not blown away by his team’s performance against newly-promoted Hull, however, telling reporters: ‘We can still be much better, and we will improve in many phases, and we will get certain relationships to a different level that will be even more efficient.

‘That’s the next step, to have bigger margins and when we have them, the opportunities, put them away to make sure that we don’t have to hang in there the last few minutes.’

Following the international break, defending champions Arsenal return to Premier League action with a trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United.

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