Terry issues a warning to Saliba: you will not return to Arsenal's starting line-up

Strong competition

Chelsea legend John Terry has issued a strong warning to William Saliba, insisting that the French defender may struggle to reclaim his starting place in Arsenal's line-up, after the club signed Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa.

A regular starter last season, Saliba played his part in Arsenal's Premier League title triumph. He then missed the opening match of the current campaign after undergoing surgery on a back problem.

Cristhian Mosquera stepped in for that game, with Piero Hincapie sat on the substitutes' bench.

Arsenal bolstered their options at centre-back last week, completing the signing of Konsa from Villa.

Terry, whose time in the Midlands coincided with the England defender, believes Saliba may face a difficult period in his bid to win his place back.

Asked on the FC Bullard channel on the "TikTok" app for the best value signing of the summer window, the Chelsea legend picked Konsa. "I'd go for Ezri Konsa for Arsenal," he said.

He added: "It's a huge signing. I think even when William Saliba returns to full fitness, he won't get his place back in the Arsenal line-up, and I think Ezri Konsa is that good."

He continued: "I worked with him at Aston Villa, and he's a player with a great deal of strength and drive, but he's also happy to play up at the halfway line, because if the ball gets in behind him he's quick enough to get to it and recover his position. He's a very, very good player."

Now 25, Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019 but has only become a first-team regular over the past four seasons, having spent loan spells with Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille.

Konsa, by contrast, was a fixture at Aston Villa, helping the Midlands side to Europa League success and featuring in European competition across three seasons under Unai Emery.