Why are Arsenal signing Konsa and how strong could the Gunners be?

Many Arsenal fans are wondering if Konsa will play regularly when Saliba and Gabriel are fit.

Arteta’s first-choice backline of Timber, Saliba, Gabriel and Calafiori appears hard to break into, on paper.

But the Gunners played 63 games in all competitions as they won the title, reached the final of the Champions League, the final of the Carabao Cup and the quarter-final of the FA Cup.

Arsenal were plagued by injuries during the campaign and Arteta is trying to avoid those issues this time.

In the aftermath of the Champions League final, Arteta was quick to say that the Gunners need to be “very ambitious, very fast, and very smart” to build on their Premier League win.

Arsenal spent £250m last summer. The arrival of Konsa will take this summer’s outlay to over £150m.

Arteta has some of the best depth of quality in Europe to call on, in a squad worth £1.19bn according to Transfermarkt.

When asked about the perfect number of players in his squad, Arteta said there are variables he takes into account.

“It depends on the ability and the history of those players,” Arteta said.

“I think there is a lot of factors that count. Twenty two outfield players and three goalkeepers of what is enough, or maybe you know more.

“You need to understand what happened in the previous season, the injury record of those players, the versatility of certain players.

“But I’m sure we’re going to hit the right number to have a bit of both a lot of competition with the right level of cooperation in the team and everybody feeling important.”