Mikel Arteta urged not to pick £51million signing against Aston Villa by Arsenal legend

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side face Aston Villa tonight (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has been urged not to pick one of his headline summer signings against Aston Villa tonight.

The Gunners will be hoping to build on last Friday’s opening night win against Coventry City when they cantered to a routine 3-0 win.

An already formidable defensive unit received a further boost last week when Ezri Konsa’s arrival from Aston Villa was confirmed.

The England international is likely to compete for a first team place with Cristhian Mosquera in the absence of William Saliba.

A back injury which flared up at the World Cup is likely to rule the Frenchman out of action for several months with the Gunners opting to give the 25-year-old a complete break, rather than go down the route of surgery.

Mosquera deputised ably for Saliba against the Sky Blues and has impressed overall since joining from Valencia in a £17million deal a year ago.

Konsa is, however, eligible to make his debut against his old club this evening, but Arsenal legend David O’Leary believes Arteta would be best served by keeping an unchanged defensive line-up.

Cristhian Mosquera stood in for William Salbia last week (Picture: Getty)

‘I am a fan,’ the Gunners’ record appearance maker told talkSPORT when asked if he rated Konsa.

‘I think he was on their list for quite a while and it’s another great signing to add to a great squad.

‘Do I see him starting tonight? I don’t think so the defence, the way it has been playing I don’t see Mikel changing that.

‘Does he want to put him in? Yes he could probably handle playing against his old club but Mikel won’t want to put that pressure on him. I’d be very surprised if he starts.

Ezri Konsa could make his Arsenal debut against his old club (Credits: John Walton/PA)

‘Never (have I seen a strong squad of defenders). Last year in a similar position you looked at the squad and thought if you’re ever going to win the league it seemed to be the best squad.

‘They’ve gone and added quality on top of quality again. The players brought in and the they’re the team to be.’

Arteta, meanwhile, is hopeful Konsa will not receive a hostile reception by his former fans after opting to join the Villa exodus.

Konsa spent seven seasons at Villa and played an integral role in the club landing the Europa League and finishing in the top four.

But the 28-year-old – among a plethora of players who have left Villa in the summer – could be targeted by the home supporters.