John Terry says Saliba may not reclaim Arsenal starting place

John Terry believes William Saliba could struggle to regain his place in Arsenal’s starting XI, with Ezri Konsa now ahead of him in the centre of defence. The former Chelsea captain said Mikel Arteta may continue with Konsa alongside Gabriel even after Saliba becomes available again.

Terry made the assessment during an appearance on the FC Bullard TikTok channel. His view is based on Konsa’s arrival from Aston Villa, which he sees as a signing strong enough to permanently change Arsenal’s defensive options.

The 28-year-old defender is expected by Terry to form a central partnership with Gabriel. Terry previously worked with Konsa at Aston Villa and highlighted his pace and forceful approach, particularly when defending space behind a high defensive line.

Konsa’s speed allows him to recover when opponents play the ball beyond the defence, while Terry also considers him capable of operating high up the pitch. Those qualities were central to Terry’s belief that the England defender can hold Saliba out of the team rather than simply cover his absence.

Arsenal paid £51 million to sign Konsa from Villa during the summer. The deal also includes a further £4 million in performance-related additions, taking the possible total cost of the transfer to £55 million.

Saliba’s return would therefore create a selection decision for Arteta rather than an automatic restoration of the previous defensive pairing. Terry’s comments place Konsa’s form and qualities at the centre of that competition, with Gabriel identified as the other likely starter in Arsenal’s defence.