Arsenal climbed to the top of the Premier League table after a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The Gunners had not beaten the Reds at Anfield in 14 years, but they ended the wretched streak with a hard-fought victory.
Kai Havertz’s 16th-minute goal proved the difference, but Arsenal had to be exceptionally good defensively from then on.
Andoni Iraola’s side piled the pressure on the Gunners, which led to several misplaced passes, and the defence had to be vigilant.
The entire backline looked switched on, barring one moment from Jurrien Timber. He was fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty for grabbing Alexander Isak’s shirt.
Among the quartet that started in defence, Ezri Konsa stood out with a masterclass performance and should have probably won the man of the match over midfielder Declan Rice.
The 29-year-old has seamlessly adapted to Arsenal’s system after his summer move from Aston Villa, and he was quite exceptional in almost every defensive attribute at Anfield.
Konsa won 100 percent of his ground duels (7/7). He also made eight clearances, five recoveries and four successful tackles. He gave Isak no space in and around the box.
Shortly after the game, Konsa celebrated the victory with the fans on Instagram with the caption: ‘Serious’.
Several Arsenal stars responded to the post, including Declan Rice, who described him as a ‘crazy player’.
The centre-back arrived at Arsenal from Villa last summer for an initial £55 million, with a further £4m in add-ons. There were initial doubts over him, given his current age.
However, Konsa has barely put a foot wrong since partnering Gabriel Magalhaes in the heart of the defence. The Brighton & Hove Albion loss remains the only exception.
The Englishman has made the right centre-back position his own for the time being, and it remains to be seen how much he plays once William Saliba returns from a back injury.
Saliba is touted to make his comeback during the festive period, but given how good Konsa has been for Arsenal, the Frenchman could be eased back into action with occasional starts until January.
In the long run, manager Mikel Arteta will no doubt rely on Saliba alongside Gabriel, but Konsa could still see starts in a rotational role. He could also feature at right-back when needed.
Stats from Sofascore.com