A good showing from Ezri Konsa tonight could be big for his Aston Villa career.
It’s fair to say that neither Bjorn Engels or Tyrone Mings covered themselves in glory during Aston Villa’s last game.
The Villans lost 3-2 at 10-man Arsenal – who were a man down for over half the game – on Sunday and individual errors from the two Dean Smith signings contributed to that sickening defeat.
Prior to visiting the Emirates, the Aston Villa centre-backs had been brilliant this season, despite the team, who sit 18th in the Premier League, not being so good as of yet.
Fortunately for Smith, he isn’t short on centre-back options and a certain Ezri Konsa will know that a solid performance in tonight’s trip to Brighton could put pressure on his two team-mates.
Konsa is yet to kick a ball for Aston Villa in the Premier League after his £12 million move from Brentford [BBC Sport], where he previously played under Smith.
But the 21-year-old is a huge talent and if he impresses tonight, it puts Mings and Engels under a bit of pressure.
Dazzling against a League One side wouldn’t speak volumes for Konsa, but doing it against the Seagulls, who are above Villa in the Premier League table, might tell Smith that he’s equipped for top-flight football.
Engels and Mings don’t have to worry about losing their places just yet, but one more error from either, coupled with strong showing from the youngster tonight, certainly gives the Aston Villa boss food for thought.
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