Ezri Konsa has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most accurate passers, and the statistic could explain why Arsenal have pushed so hard to bring the Aston Villa defender to north London.
According to the Opta/FotMob-style figures circulating from last season, Konsa finished with a remarkable 95.5% pass accuracy, the highest among Premier League players in the listed ranking. He was ahead of Trevoh Chalobah and Rúben Dias, who both recorded 93.0%, while Arsenal’s William Saliba posted 92.9% and Lewis Dunk completed the top five with 92.3%.
The numbers underline one of Konsa’s biggest strengths: his ability to retain possession and play safely from the back.
Konsa beats Premier League defensive elite
Konsa’s 95.5% passing accuracy is particularly impressive because he was not simply a peripheral squad player. He made 34 Premier League appearances and started all 34, accumulating more than 3,000 minutes for Aston Villa during the 2025/26 campaign. StatMuse’s season database also ranks him first for Premier League pass completion, although it records a slightly different figure of 96.2%, highlighting how statistics can vary according to the data provider and methodology.
FotMob’s data, meanwhile, lists Konsa at 95.5% and credits him with 59.4 accurate passes per 90 minutes for Villa.
That consistency is important for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whose tactical approach places enormous demands on defenders in possession.
Arsenal defenders are expected to circulate the ball under pressure, break opposition lines when opportunities appear and maintain possession when the team pushes high up the pitch. Konsa’s passing efficiency therefore fits naturally into the profile of a defender Arteta would want.
Why Arsenal want Konsa
The timing of Arsenal’s move makes the statistic even more significant.
Arsenal have agreed a deal with Aston Villa for Konsa worth around £50 million, with reports putting the overall package at approximately £51 million. The England international is expected to undergo his medical before completing the move.
The transfer is also being driven by Arsenal’s defensive injury situation. William Saliba and Jurriën Timber have both faced fitness concerns, increasing the need for another experienced defender.
Konsa offers more than just central-defensive cover. The 28-year-old can operate at centre-back and right-back, giving Arteta another tactical option across the defensive line.
A major boost to Arsenal’s build-up play
The most intriguing aspect of the signing could be how Konsa complements Arsenal’s existing defenders.
Saliba’s 92.9% passing accuracy in the supplied ranking shows that Arsenal already possess an exceptionally reliable ball-playing centre-back. Adding Konsa, who ranked above him, could give Arteta two defenders capable of maintaining extremely high possession standards.
For a team that wants to dominate territory and control matches, that reliability can be crucial. A misplaced pass from the back can expose an entire defensive structure, while accurate circulation allows midfielders and attackers to receive possession in better positions.
Konsa’s statistics therefore suggest that Arsenal are not simply signing another defender to fill a gap. They are adding a player whose technical profile is closely aligned with their possession-based football.
The bigger picture
Konsa’s passing numbers should not be viewed in isolation. Passing accuracy does not automatically make a defender elite, because progressive passes, line-breaking passes, defensive actions and the difficulty of attempted passes also matter.
Nevertheless, maintaining a completion rate above 95% across a full Premier League campaign is an eye-catching achievement.
With Arsenal agreeing a significant fee for the England international, the statistic provides another reason for supporters to be excited.
If Konsa can reproduce his combination of passing security, defensive reliability and positional versatility at the Emirates, Arsenal could have secured a defender who fits Arteta’s system almost perfectly.
And with the Premier League season approaching, Arsenal fans may soon discover that the 95.5% passing figure was only one part of what makes Ezri Konsa such an attractive signing.
