Arsenal huddle
Arsenal huddle
A defender who makes the bench, plays 90 minutes, then gets sent home is the version of an international break clubs hate. The statement names the absence. It does not name the injury.
England have a game on Tuesday. Arsenal have Leeds on Saturday. One of those fixtures has already lost him.
A slight muscle issue from last week was supposed to be managed. Full matches have a way of reopening them.
Ezri Konsa has been ruled out of England’s game against Czechia and has returned to Arsenal for assessment, a fresh concern before Saturday’s Premier League restart.
The Football Association said: “Ezri Konsa and Alex Scott have both been ruled out of tomorrow night’s game vs Czechia. The pair have returned to their respective clubs for further assessment.”
The extent is unclear. Thomas Tuchel is expected to speak on Monday. Konsa missed training last week with a slight muscle injury, followed his own programme, made the bench for the 2-0 win in Prague, then played the full 90 minutes against Croatia. He has now been withdrawn from the Wembley squad.
He joined from Aston Villa in the summer for £55million and has partnered Gabriel in the wins over Chelsea, Napoli and Sunderland. A first start against his former club brought a sliding tackle on Morgan Rogers and a place on the September player-of-the-month shortlist. Leeds at the Emirates on 10 October was the listed return date when the issue looked minor. That date is now an assessment, not a selection.
The back line he would miss is already short. William Saliba is targeting November after a back problem that did not need surgery. Piero Hincapie was left out of Ecuador’s squad. Ben White missed Brighton with a groin issue and was expected back after the break. Cristhian Mosquera has been out since Villa on 31 August and was closing in on a return. Gabriel played 90 minutes for Brazil and was put on an individual plan afterwards.
If Konsa’s scan matches the “slight muscle” line, Saturday is still possible. If it matches a player being pulled out of a camp two days before a match, Arteta is picking a centre-back pair without the summer signing and without Saliba. No club diagnosis has been published. England’s statement is the document. The assessment in London is the one that decides whether he faces Leeds.