William Saliba is closing in on making his return from injury, and he could even be involved against Slavia Prague tonight.

That’s a huge boost for Arsenal, but it also raises an obvious discussion about how Mikel Arteta will set up the defence going forward. Ezri Konsa has been outstanding since joining from Aston Villa and has formed a superb partnership with Gabriel while Saliba has been out. But according to FootballTransfers, the Arsenal manager has been preparing Konsa for a different role since he arrived.

Ezri Konsa being trained at right-back

Konsa and Gabriel have started seven of Arsenal’s nine Premier League games this season, and have kept clean sheets in each of the last three league games. Together, they helped keep Liverpool without a single shot on target in the win at Anfield on Sunday.

But FootballTransfers report that Konsa has also been drilled to play at right-back since he arrived, which isn’t an unfamiliar role to him. He played there quite often for Villa during the 2023-24 season (17 times in the Premier League, according to Transfermarkt) and made his England debut as a full-back.

As we suggested last week, it could be the perfect way to keep all three in the side. Arteta has always liked centre-backs who can play wide, and the likes of Ben White and Piero Hincapie have turned from centre-backs into full-backs after joining.

Speaking of White, this may lead some to question his future, but the report also claims that is not the case. The former Brighton defender is in talks over a new contract, with his current deal running until 2028, and FootballTransfers say Konsa isn’t being lined up as his replacement. Arsenal want to keep White unless he pushes for a move.

Cristhian Mosquera’s future could be in doubt

If anyone is affected by this, it’s Cristhian Mosquera. With Saliba, Gabriel and Konsa all fit, his minutes will all but disappear. He’s a good player and a useful squad option, and interestingly he’s actually Arsenal’s fastest player this season, but he isn’t quite at the level of the three ahead of him.

Last season, he filled in as an emergency right-back, of course including in the Champions League final. If Konsa is now the ’emergency’ option there instead, Mosquera may find himself surplus to requirements come the summer.

For now though, Arteta has a nice problem to have. All eyes will be on Prague tonight to see whether Saliba makes his long-awaited return.