Ezri Konsa reveals how England are taking a leaf out of Arsenal’s playbook for the World Cup

England defender Ezri Konsa says the focus on set pieces in the Premier League – with Arsenal at the forefront – has bled into the national team’s approach under Thomas Tuchel

Ezri Konsa says England are ready to take a leaf out of Arsenal’s book to become set-piece kings. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made Arsenal the most feared team in the Premier League when it comes to scoring from free kicks, corners and even long throws.

Konsa already works on set-pieces with Aston Villa’s specialist coach Austin MacPhee and scored his first goal for England in the 5-0 win in Serbia in September. The Villa defender believes it is going to become part of the international game and also says England can make the most of it at next year’s World Cup.

Konsa said: “This season you’ve seen a lot more long throw-ins, Brentford being one team that do it really well and it is difficult to defend. I think now there’s a lot more physicality and you do have to be strong, you do have to have physicality in the team because if not you are going to struggle.

“Look the Premier League’s changing everything year, it’s getting harder and harder and this season, I think you’re seeing teams scoring more from set-pieces and the focus is more on in and around set-pieces when you are defending.

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“For me as a defender I think it’s important that you do have that physicality when you comes to set-pieces and you make sure the boys around you are ready for what’s to come because you know nowadays, especially with the throw-ins and the corners.

“You look at Arsenal and see how many goals they have scored and how many points they’ve won from it. It does play a big part and it’s a big part in the game.”

Konsa says that working on set pieces at Villa have become a huge part of his game and his goal in Serbia was born out of those sessions at club level. He says it is harder to do as many drills with England because they have less time together.

He said: “That set piece in Serbia, obviously we did it for England. But in my head, because I’d been with Austin for so many seasons now, it’s something he’s instilled into my head. When you’re in the opposition box, to think like a striker, as a centre-half. We get loads of set-pieces.

“When I do get the opportunity to go out there, I do have to think like a striker. For me, since Austin has come in, it’s something he’s instilled into my head. It’s going to stay there for a long time. Our set piece coach at Aston Villa always says when we’re attacking corners and free-kicks to think like a striker. In that situation, I wanted to think like a striker. Just run into the box.

“Hopefully there was a rebound. It just fell to me and I smashed it in with my left foot. I don’t even think I needed to smash it in! When you come with England, you haven’t really got much time to train because sometimes you come off the back end of two days before. The games are coming quick in succession. We try and work on it as much as we can. But it’s a big point here, definitely.”

Konsa, 28, has become a mainstay in defence for England boss Thomas Tuchel and certainly one of his most trusted players, not least because he can play in different positions across the back four.

But that almost detracts from Konsa’s ability as his pace, maturity and reading of the game is the reason why he is now pushing to start games next summer. Konsa also admits that feeling that level of trust and belief from his manager is a powerful force.

He added: “As a player, to have a manager that shows trust and believes in you is always a special feeling and gives you so much confidence coming here going into games. I do owe him a lot for playing me in all those games.

“It was a dream since I was a kid to represent my country and to have played as many games under him as I have 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 be working under him.”

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