Ezri Konsa sets out Arsenal’s trophy ambitions before Bayern Munich trip
The Arsenal defender says he wants to win the Champions League and Premier League as he prepares to face England teammate Harry Kane in Munich.
Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa told the Guardian in an interview published Monday, 19 October, that he wants to win the Champions League and Premier League with his new club. Arsenal play Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, 21 October, when Konsa is due to face England teammate Harry Kane.
Konsa told the Guardian he joined Arsenal determined to win more trophies after lifting the Europa League with Aston Villa last season. Asked about the Bayern match, he spoke of the challenge of facing Kane and praised the England captain, who has played for Bayern since leaving Tottenham in 2023.
Konsa’s role in Arsenal’s strong start
Konsa has quickly become a regular since his summer move from Villa. According to the Guardian, he made his Arsenal debut as a substitute against his former club and has since played every minute of the team’s Premier League and Champions League matches. William Saliba’s injury has made that immediate run of playing time especially significant for Arsenal’s defence.
His late intervention helped protect a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 18 October. With Forest pressing for an equaliser in the 93rd minute, Konsa tracked Liam Delap and made a covering tackle. The Guardian described the result as Arsenal’s 10th win in 11 matches this season and another clean sheet.
CBS Sports reported that Noni Madueke scored Arsenal’s winner in the 80th minute. Its assessment was that the victory lacked attacking fluency, while the squad’s depth helped Arsenal get the result. The win came at a ground where, according to the Guardian, Arsenal had drawn 0-0 in each of the previous two seasons.
Bayern Munich await at the Allianz Arena
Bayern also enter Wednesday’s match after a win: CBS Sports reported that they beat RB Leipzig 6-1 following two consecutive draws. Its account said Bayern’s previous Champions League match ended 3-3 away at Viking, giving Arsenal a recent example of both the German side’s scoring power and the chances opponents have created against them.
Konsa has faced Kane’s Bayern before. The Guardian recalled Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Bayern in October 2024, a previous meeting that adds personal context to Wednesday’s contest. Konsa’s newly stated ambitions add to the earlier NewsJaws preview of the fixture, which focused on Bayern’s home record and the teams’ form.
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Sources and context
- Konsa bullish about Arsenal’s Champions League hopes as Bayern clash loomsThe Guardian
- Champions League Vibe Check: Barcelona, Bayern Munich impress; Manchester United in troubleCBS Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.