Gary Lineker makes shock claim over William Saliba and £55 million Arsenal star

Gary Lineker talks about Arsenal’s defensive strength (Picture: The Rest Is Football)

Gary Lineker has hinted William Saliba will struggle to win his place back in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side given the form of Ezri Konsa.

The France international is close to making his return from the back injury he suffered in a World Cup semi-final defeat against Spain.

Saliba’s absence threatened to undermine the early weeks of Arsenal’s Premier League title defence but in truth he has hardly been missed at all.

Eyebrows were raised when Arteta sanctioned a £55milllion move for Konsa in the summer but his judgement has been fully vindicated.

The former Aston Villa star has hardly put a foot wrong and Lineker believes he is a better out and out defender than the man who will be gunning to reclaim his place.

‘I think Konsa is ultimately a better defender,’ Lineker told The Rest is Football. ‘I think Saliba has got the odd mistake in him.

‘Konsa I’ve not really seen that yet.’

With Saliba making his return, would you rather Konsa or Saliba? 👀 https://t.co/JKkh2sAcO8 pic.twitter.com/MWTQ23s7Gs— The Rest Is Football (@RestIsFootball) November 3, 2026

Lineker’s co-host Micah Richards, meanwhile, took a different view although he confessed he had underestimated Konsa.