England ready to copy Mikel Arteta Arsenal tactics to win 2026 World Cup | Football | Sport
Ezri Konsa says England are ready to follow Arsenal’s lead in becoming set-piece specialists at next year’s World Cup. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has transformed the Gunners into the most dangerous team in the Premier League when it comes to dead balls, including free kicks, corners and even long throws. Konsa already trains on set pieces with Aston Villa specialist coach Austin MacPhee and scored his first England goal in the 5-0 win over Serbia in September.
The Villa centre-back believes this will become increasingly important in international football and believes England can take advantage of it at next summer’s World Cup. Konsa said: “This season you’ve seen a lot more long throws, Brentford being a team that does it very well and it’s difficult to defend. I think now there’s a lot more physicality and you have to be strong, you have to have physicality in the team because otherwise you’re going to struggle.
“Look, the Premier League is changing everything this year, it’s getting harder and harder and this season I think you’re seeing teams score more from set pieces and there’s more emphasis on set pieces and around when you’re defending.
“For me, as a defender, I think it’s important that you have that physicality at set pieces and make sure the boys around you are ready for what’s coming because you know that nowadays, especially with throw-ins and corners.
“You look at Arsenal and see how many goals they scored and how many points they won. That plays a big part and it’s a big part in the game.”
Konsa revealed that set-piece work at Villa had become crucial to his development, with his goal for Serbia stemming directly from the club’s training sessions. He acknowledged the challenge of replicating such detailed preparation with England due to the limited time spent together.
He explained: “That set piece in Serbia, we obviously did it for England. But in my head, because I’ve been with Austin for so many seasons now, it’s something he instilled in my head. When you’re in the opponent’s box, to think like a striker, like a central defender. We have a lot of set pieces.
“When I have the opportunity to go there, I have to think like a striker. For me, since Austin came, it’s something he instilled in my head. It’s going to stay there for a long time.
“Our set-piece coach at Aston Villa always says that when we attack corners and free-kicks you have to think like a striker. In this situation I wanted to think like a striker. Just run into the box.
“I hope there was a bounce. He fell on top of me and I crushed him with my left foot. I don’t even think I needed to crush him!
“When you come with England you don’t really have much time to train because sometimes you arrive late two days before. The games come quickly. We try to work on that as much as we can. But it’s an important point here, certainly.”
The 28-year-old has established himself as a key figure in Thomas Tuchel’s England side, proving his versatility across the back four while demonstrating the pace, composure and tactical awareness that marks him out as a genuine contender for a starting place next summer.
Konsa added: “As a player, having a manager who trusts you and believes in you is always a special feeling and gives you so much confidence coming here before the matches. I owe him a lot for playing me in all these matches.
“It was a dream since I was a child to represent my country and to have played so many matches under him is a special feeling, so I can only thank him for what he has done. He is a great manager and I am just happy to work under him.”