Shearer Names Konsa as Early Player of the Season and Tips Brighton as Arsenal's Main Title Rival

What happened

Alan Shearer has identified Arsenal summer signing Ezri Konsa as his Premier League player of the season so far, in comments reported by Football365 and made to Betfair. Konsa joined Arsenal from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window for around £55m, arriving as extra cover at centre-back while William Saliba was injured. The England international, 29, has since formed a strong partnership with fellow centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, and Arsenal have moved clear at the top of the Premier League table.

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Shearer said he believed Konsa had been the division's best player to this point, pointing to Arsenal's defensive performances and the fact that Saliba's absence has barely been discussed. He noted that Saliba has only been mentioned in the last two weeks, as people wonder how he will get back into the side because Konsa has been that good. Rio Ferdinand echoed the assessment, saying Mikel Arteta now has a "huge problem" over what to do when Saliba is fit, describing Konsa as looking like he has been in the back four for ten years and as an "immovable object" who is dominant, aggressive and accustomed to wearing the Arsenal shirt. Ferdinand added that it is a good problem for Arteta, with two top centre-backs competing, and suggested Konsa may sometimes play right-back.

Shearer also made a surprising title prediction, telling Betfair that Brighton could be Arsenal's main challenge this season. He said he thinks Liverpool and Chelsea are both in transition and still have plenty of work to do, while Brighton have been incredible, including in Europe. Shearer acknowledged that European commitments could hinder Brighton as the season goes on but said they are managing really well at the minute, that he does not think they will go away, and that they will be around for the majority of the season.