Alan Shearer has hailed Arsenal summer signing Ezri Konsa as the early 'player of the season' in the Premier League.
Konsa completed a £55m move to Arsenal over the summer after ending his seven-year spell at Aston Villa. The England defender won the Europa League at Villa Park but has bigger ambitions with reigning Premier League champions and Champions League finalists Arsenal.
Konsa's Impact at Arsenal
Konsa has missed just one game for Arsenal so far this season, helping Mikel Arteta's side open up a five-point gap at the top of the Premier League and enjoy an impressive start to their European campaign.
The 29-year-old was signed partly due to the absence of William Saliba, who returned from last summer's World Cup with a serious back injury.
Pundits Question Saliba's Return
But Konsa's form has led several pundits to question whether Saliba, widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, will even get straight back into the Arsenal team.
'I think the player of the season up to now has been Ezri Konsa,' Premier League record goalscorer and former England striker Shearer told Betfair.
'I just think when you look at the performances of Arsenal defensively, and look at his performances defensively, we haven't even really mentioned them missing William Saliba.
'The only time we've mentioned him is in the last two weeks and that's because everyone is thinking how is he going to get back in because Konsa has been that good.'
Ferdinand Sees Selection Problem
Earlier this week Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said Konsa's brilliant start at Arsenal had created a 'problem' for Arteta.
'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.'
Brighton Emerges as Title Challenger
Arsenal's nearest challengers going into the November international break is Brighton, who have won seven of their ten league games to climb to second in the Premier League.
'Brighton could be Arsenal's main challenge to the title this season,' Shearer added.
'I think Liverpool are in transition. Chelsea, same thing. They still have plenty of work to do with those football clubs.
'Brighton have been incredible. The football that they're playing, I mean, in Europe too, whether that will hinder them the longer the season goes on I don't know, but they're managing really well at the minute.
'I don't think they're going to go away. I think there'll be around for the majority of the season.'
Arsenal's first game back following the international break is a potentially tricky trip to St James' Park to face Newcastle United.
