LONDON: Rio Ferdinand says the signing of Ezri Konsa has reinforced his belief that Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League again this season.

Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his defence this summer after Jurrien Timber and William Saliba are expected to miss the start of the season due to injury.

The Gunners have identified Konsa as their top target and have now reportedly reached an agreement with Aston Villa to sign the versatile defender for an initial fee of £51 million.

Konsa will undergo a medical in the coming days and becomes Arsenal’s fourth signing of the summer after Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes.

Commenting on Konsa’s move to the defending champions, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: “I think it’s a great signing. A player who is at the peak of his career, knows exactly who he is and what he is capable of.

“There’s nothing superfluous about him. He’s a solid Premier League defender, really good.

“Arsenal are progressing in talks with Konsa from Aston Villa for £51 million plus bonuses. I think it’s a very good deal in today’s market.

“Aged 28, at least four or five more years of really solid and reliable service, besides providing important protection in two positions, namely centre-back and right-back.

“You have Ben White who looks fit now, but has had injuries at right-back. Timbers are also struggling to maintain fitness levels, as are concerns about Saliba’s injury.

“He would be a very good support. Someone who can come in and play without any questions. His versatility at the highest level and his reliability at right-back and centre-back make this a very worthwhile purchase.”

Arsenal will begin their title defence tomorrow against newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates.

The Gunners already gave an early warning with a stylish victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend.

Ferdinand believes Konsa’s arrival, which is expected to be finalized soon, will only strengthen Arsenal’s position to successfully defend their title this season.

“If you get him, it reinforces the reason why I think Arsenal will win the league again because it’s a smart and very good signing,” Ferdinand said.

Ferdinand’s former England teammate Michael Owen also shared the view and believed Arsenal’s title this season was almost “certain”.

“Arsenal just need to stay at their current level and they will win the Premier League again.

“I don’t see any other team emerging from the challengers’ group and taking 85 points, while Arsenal are almost certainly capable of reaching that number again.

“They are a very consistent team with a very good goalkeeper and defence. I don’t see their performance dropping.

“They are expected to score a high number of points. Maybe not the number that Manchester City or Liverpool have achieved in the past, but I don’t see any team being able to match them.

“There are too many questions about other teams. There are questions everywhere this season with all the new managers except Arsenal.

“They will be consistent and accumulate around the mid to late 80s and I don’t think anyone can beat that number.

“I think there are more question marks about this season than ever before, which is why I believe Arsenal are almost certain to win the Premier League,” Owen said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.

Football Prediction 20-Aug-2026		Result
Vendsyssel – Hillerod	Over 2.5	TBA
Sion – Ajax	BTTS YES	TBA
Besiktas – K. Zalgiris	1 Over 1.5	TBA
Benfica – Aarhus	1 Over 1.5	TBA
Midtjylland – Rijeka	1	TBA
Twente – Qarabag	1	TBA
Atalanta – H. Tel Aviv	1	TBA
Getafe – Partizan	1	TBA
Al Rayyan – Lusail	1	TBA
Al Fayha – Al Hilal	2	TBA

Football Prediction 19-Aug-2026		Result
ASA Aarhus – Randers FC	2	FT 0:4 WON
H. Beer Sheva – Sabah	Over 1.5	FT 2:1 WON
Nijmegen – Bodo/Glimt	Over 2.5	FT 1:3 WON
Slovan Bratislava – Celje	2 Ov 0.5	FT 1:1 WON
Jeddah – Al Kholood	2	FT 0:5 WON
Raslavice – Kosice	2	FT 0:5 WON
Atl. Madrid – Malaga	1	FT 2:0 WON
Hogaborgs – Oster	2	FT 0:4 WON

LONDON: Arsenal and Manchester City are in an unusual position heading into the new Premier League (EPL) season.

For the first time since the 2004-05 season, Arsenal will begin their campaign as champions when they host newly promoted Coventry in the opening match this Saturday.

In contrast to the cheerful atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, City are anxiously entering an era without Pep Guardiola after the Spanish manager ended his remarkable 10-year reign at the end of last season.

After several years in City’s shadow, Mikel Arteta’s squad caused a major change in the EPL balance of power last season when they finally won their first major league title in 22 years.

Arsenal finished seven points clear of runners-up City and were high on confidence as they began their bid to win back-to-back Premier League titles for the first time since the 1930s.

Arteta will not let his players get too comfortable with past successes and the painful defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the Champions League final in May has fuelled Arsenal’s pursuit of more trophies.

Based on Arsenal’s convincing 3-0 victory over City in the Community Shield last Sunday, the Gunners have widened the gap between the two clubs since last season.

Arteta’s squad added Newcastle midfielders Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, with both impressing in the big win over City.

“The desire is there because I want to experience that moment again,” Arteta said. “We know the task is difficult. We know it will require something special and we are ready for it.”

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was appointed to replace Guardiola, but the Italian faces an almost impossible task of repeating Guardiola’s remarkable feat of winning 20 trophies during an unforgettable decade as manager.

Maresca won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup with Chelsea, but he lasted less than two years at Stamford Bridge before abruptly leaving the club amid strained relations with the club’s hierarchy and fans’ frustration with his boring tactics.

Chasing Arsenal while completing the team rebuilding process that Guardiola began by replacing aging star players with younger players is a very challenging task for Maresca.

City, who host Bournemouth in their first leg on Sunday, have already splashed out £116 million for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

However, the sale of World Cup-winning Spanish star Rodri to Barcelona was a huge blow to Maresca.

“After 10 games, if we collect 10 points, 20 points, 30 points. People will compare him with Pep after 10 games. It doesn’t put pressure on me,” Maresca said.

“Someone asked me if the task of replacing him was impossible. Maybe, but at the same time it was a privilege.”

MANCHESTER: Harry Maguire hopes Marcus Rashford will remain at Manchester United because he believes the England striker can improve the team’s strength and be a major threat in front of goal.

Rashford’s future at Old Trafford is still a question mark after he has not played for United since he was no longer the preferred choice of former manager, Ruben Amorim, in December 2024.

The 28-year-old then spent 18 months on loan with Aston Villa and Barcelona.

However, Rashford returned to the United squad last week after a long break following the World Cup and appeared as a substitute when Michael Carrick’s team lost 2-4 to Italian club AC Milan in pre-season yesterday.

Carrick previously described Rashford as ‘our player’, suggesting the striker is still in the team’s plans.

Maguire, on the other hand, hopes Rashford will stay at the club.

“Of course the transfer window is still open. As a player, we hope he stays because if he stays with us, he is a big asset.

“He can definitely improve our team. You can see when he comes on, he poses a big threat to the opposing defense and should be able to score goals.

“He’s a big threat,” Maguire said after the defeat to Milan.

United, who finished third in the EPL last season, will open their new campaign by visiting newly promoted Hull City on August 22.