EPL: Konsa hails fans, teammates after impressive Emirates debut against Chelsea

Konsa Hails Fans, Teammates After Impressive Emirates Debut Against Chelsea

Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa said he “felt right at home from day one” after making an impressive Emirates Stadium debut in the club’s 2–1 comeback victory over Chelsea on Sunday.

Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa

The defender contested 12 duels and won eight—his best figures in a Premier League match since December 2024—as he formed an impressive partnership with Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.

Konsa, who joined Arsenal from Aston Villa during the summer, also produced a memorable moment when he dispossessed Morgan Rogers as Chelsea attempted to launch a counter-attack, prompting a huge roar from the Emirates crowd.

Rogers is a former Aston Villa teammate and a close friend of Konsa’s, but the Arsenal defender said their relationship did not matter once the match began.

“[Rogers] is a good friend of mine, but on the pitch, it’s a different story. I saw the opportunity to go in and make the tackle, and it came off,” Konsa told Arsenal’s website on Sunday.

Reflecting on his debut, Konsa said he particularly enjoyed playing in his first London derby.

“I really enjoyed the occasion. It was my first London derby, and I thought the fans were fantastic—superb. They stayed behind us throughout the game. Without them, these games are impossible.”

Arsenal fell behind to an early goal from Rogers before recovering through Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Premier League season.

Konsa said the team’s response after conceding early demonstrated its character.

“Conceding so early isn’t great, and I know we take a lot of pride in keeping clean sheets here, but I thought the reaction was second to none. It was fantastic. It just goes to show the character and mentality of this team.”

The 28-year-old said he had quickly adapted to life at Arsenal despite joining the club only a couple of weeks ago.

“I felt right at home from day one,” he said. “The boys have been top, and the staff have been top. As I said in previous interviews, this style really suits me. I love the boss’ way of playing. The amount of quality we have, and the quality I have around me, makes things easier.”

Konsa, however, said Arsenal must remain focused despite their impressive start.

“I think it’s important to go into different games with confidence. We’ve started really well, but it’s still early days. We’re going to take it game by game and day by day.”

PUNCH Online reports that Konsa made his Arsenal debut last week against his former club, Aston Villa, at Villa Park. He played 11 minutes in Arsenal’s 1–0 victory.