Arsenal have received a positive update on Ezri Konsa after the defender returned from England duty with an injury concern.
The 28-year-old has withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s squad ahead of Tuesday night’s Nations League meeting with Czechia and is back at Arsenal for assessment.
However, the problem is not believed to be serious, providing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with some reassurance before Premier League action resumes against Leeds United on Saturday, according to The Standard.
Konsa arrived for international duty experiencing what Tuchel described as “discomfort”, with the Arsenal defender understood to have been managing a dead leg.
He was nevertheless able to play the full 90 minutes of England’s 7-0 victory over Croatia on Saturday before suffering a recurrence of the problem.
Konsa has consequently returned to north London as a precaution rather than remaining with England for their final fixture of the international window.
It is not yet clear whether he will recover in time to face Leeds, meaning his condition will need to be assessed at Arsenal before Arteta makes a decision on his involvement.
The summer signing has quickly become an important defensive option since completing his £55 million move from Aston Villa.
His potential absence would be particularly unwelcome because Arsenal have already had to manage several defensive injuries during the opening weeks of their title defence.
William Saliba remains on the comeback trail following his long-term back problem, although there has been encouraging news elsewhere at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Ben White has returned to training, while Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera have also been back on the pitch as they work towards full fitness.
Konsa is not Arsenal’s only concern from the international break, with Christos Tzolis expected to miss the Leeds game after suffering a hamstring injury with Greece.
Kai Havertz has also returned to Arsenal following a hamstring problem with Germany, although tests have indicated that his injury is not serious.
Martin Odegaard, meanwhile, came through all four of Norway’s matches despite briefly causing concern with an ankle problem.
Konsa’s early return therefore gives Arsenal an opportunity to manage his recovery before Saturday, with the initial assessment offering hope that another lengthy defensive absence has been avoided.