For Ezri Konsa, it was just a wonderfully satisfying challenge. The Nottingham Forest striker Liam Delap had stolen in behind him up the inside left channel on Sunday. There were 93 minutes gone, Arsenal were 1-0 up and it was now or never for Forest.
Konsa decreed that it would be never, curving his covering run back, matching Delap for pace and stretching into the perfect block tackle. So, another win for Arsenal: their 10th in 11 matches this season. And for Konsa, a continuation of what has been a dreamlike couple of months.
Do points-saving last-minute challenges mean more when the defender is actually a fan of the club, too? I had a lot of Arsenal kits when I was younger. You dream of playing for big clubs like this.
When you’re a kid, you see the likes of Arsenal, growing up, and the amount of quality players they’ve had throughout the years and to be here – and not only to be here but to be here with close friends – makes it even more special.” Konsa is talking about Eberechi Eze, in particular; another boyhood Arsenal fan, with whom he is especially tight. Many supporters have seen the clip of Eze greeting Konsa at the training ground after the latter had completed his £51m move from Aston Villa and how they crack up with laughter before embracing. But Konsa knows a clutch of other Arsenal players from England duty – Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ben White – and he credits them with helping him to settle in.
The 28-year-old’s adaptation has been quick and it has needed to be with William Saliba injured. After making his Arsenal debut as a substitute at Villa – Konsa’s scriptwriters have been hard at work – he has played in every minute of the club’s Premier League and Champions League matches. The victory at Forest, where Arsenal had drawn 0-0 in each of the previous two seasons, was significant.
It was not a performance of any attacking pace or spark. Perhaps it made the points feel more precious. If you want to win titles, you have to come away to tough places like this and get three points.” Things are about to get even more interesting for Konsa and Arsenal because on Wednesday they face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
