Arsenal won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest today and Mikel Arteta was full of praise for two of his defensive players.

The Gunners managed to sneak the three points thanks to a late winner from Noni Madueke but it was once again the solid foundation from the back that allowed Arsenal to be in position to win the game.

Much like last season, the defence was key and while William Saliba is missing, the new signing of Ezri Konsa is paying off while next to him, Gabriel continues to impress.

Indeed, Konsa and Gabriel are going to be key if Arsenal are to win the title again and speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta conceded today’s win at Forest was not possible without them.

Mikel Arteta lavishes praise on Gabriel and Konsa

There is absolutely no doubt that the signing of Ezri Konsa has been one of the big success stories at Arsenal so far in 2026. He seems to have stepped up another level from his form at Aston Villa and next to Gabriel, he looks impressive.

And for Arteta, how both Konsa and Gabriel dealt with Forest today was seriously impressive.

“The win was not possible without them, because they have so much quality and physicality, having to constantly deal with what we predicted to be 50 balls in the air. I don’t know how many they had, but it would’ve been very close to that. And it’s not only that, it’s what happens after that ball and the consequences from that,” Arteta said of his defensive duo.

“To be on it constantly, every action delivered is very tough. When you think it’s done, Wood and Hudson-Odoi come in and they start to have a different problem. Now you are man-to-man with the two centre-backs. But that’s the Premier League, and the quality of it which makes it the best league in the world.”

Gabriel and Konsa completed ten clearances between them and blocked four shots. Those two stats on their own show how important they both are.

The big question really is when William Saliba does come back, then just who makes way? The logical answer is Konsa but right now, you cannot drop the England man.