Ezri Konsa transfer latest: Arsenal confident of reaching agreement for Mikel Arteta priority signing | OneFootball

The England defender ticks many boxes for Mikel Arteta

Arsenal identified Konsa as a top target earlier this summer but were unwilling to match Villa's valuation of £60million.

There have also been links with Jarell Quansah at Bayer Leverkusen, though the sense has always been that Arsenal's preference was to find a compromise for Konsa.

Arsenal are understood to have now stepped up their pursuit of the 28-year-old and progress has been made.

A final agreement has not yet been reached but talks are advancing and there is a growing belief that a deal will be finalised.

Konsa has returned to Villa training after being given a lengthy break following his involvement in the World Cup for England.

He is said to be keen on making the move to north London, though Villa have up to this point been firm on their valuation after already losing Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans this summer.

Mikel Arteta admires Konsa's versatility, seeing him as a player who will provide an option both at right-back and in the centre of defence.

Per Opta stats, Konsa registered the best ground duel success rate last season of any player, winning 73.1% of them. Gabriel sat third in that metric with 69.9%.

Konsa's Premier League experience is also a key appeal. Arteta likes signing players who do not have to adapt to the league and has already done so this summer with Bruno Guimaraes.

Arsenal are short on the right of defence. Timber is still "weeks" away from a return as he continues to battle a groin injury, while Saliba is set to miss months as he recovers from a back problem.

With those two players out, Arteta has used teenagers Louie Copley and Theo Julienne at right-back at times during pre-season.

In the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday, Piero Hincapie was the only defender named on the bench.