Bukyao Saka and Ezri Konsa teamed up with England at the World Cup – and are set to do so again at Arsenal
Arsenal are not standing still as they look to defend their Premier League title.
The Gunners have spent more than £100m already, bringing in Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle (£75m) and Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis (£34m) during this transfer window.
And they are now set to bring in Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa for around £51m.
It may seem strange that Arsenal – who have seven senior defenders – want to bring in another established centre-back, but there are reasons why Mikel Arteta has decided to go for the England international.
Last season, Arsenal's extremely well drilled backline, aided by the effective partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, helped them win their first title in 22 years. They only conceded 27 league goals.
But half of their title-winning defence is not going to be fit for the first part of the season.
Saliba has been ruled out for an 'extended period' with a long-term back issue which he had been managing last season and which ended his World Cup with France early.
Jurrien Timber, Arsenal's first-choice right-back, is also out for the opening weeks of the season with a groin problem that caused him to pull out of the Netherlands World Cup squad.
That leaves Ben White, who has had his own fitness issues in recent seasons, as Arsenal's only fit right-back and 21-year-old Cristhian Mosquera as the only right sided centre back to partner Gabriel Magalhaes.
It could be argued that Arsenal, who also made defender Piero Hincapie's loan deal permanent this summer, could be able to cope without signing another defender.
But Arteta does not seem to like fielding two left-footed players at centre-back – which would happen if White got injured and Mosquera had to move to right-back.
Riccardo Calafiori is preferred at left-back by Arteta, because of the unpredictability he brings to the Arsenal attack. Hincapie is left-sided too.
Highly rated 16-year-old academy defender Marli Salmon is also on the books but is most likely to be used sparingly in cup competitions as he continues to develop.
Before Arsenal moved for Konsa, they considered signing Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah who can play at right-back and as a right-sided centre-back.
