England manager Thomas Tuchel has eased concerns over Ezri Konsa’s fitness after the Arsenal defender withdrew from the national team squad ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic.
Konsa was among two players who left the England camp on Monday, with Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott also pulling out before the final match of the international break.
The defender’s unexpected departure initially raised concerns about his availability for Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Leeds United.
However, Tuchel has confirmed that Konsa suffered a knock to his thigh rather than a muscle injury, suggesting the problem may not require a lengthy recovery.
Tuchel Reveals Details Behind Konsa’s Injury
Speaking during Monday’s pre-match press conference, Tuchel explained that Konsa had been managing discomfort since arriving for international duty.
“Ezri felt discomfort when he came into camp,” Tuchel told reporters. “He played with discomfort against Spain and it got a bit worse so he stayed in camp and tried everything for the match in Czechia which came too soon.
“He tried everything for the match in Croatia and gave the green light, finished all the training sessions, unfortunately he got another hit on the quad that caused a light trauma.
“We decided to not let him play through the pain and discomfort again, so he left camp to get treatment for both of his issues.
“I think nothing major but not worth the risk taking. We were happy with attitude that he showed to stay in camp. It’s a knock not a muscle injury.”
Konsa featured for the entire 90 minutes in England’s 3-2 defeat to Spain before sitting out the 2-0 victory over Czechia.
He subsequently returned to the starting lineup against Croatia, completing another full match as England secured an emphatic 7-0 victory.
Arsenal Hopeful of Konsa Return Against Leeds
The latest development will provide some encouragement for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who has been dealing with several defensive injury concerns.
Konsa has started four consecutive matches across the Premier League and Champions League, with injuries to William Saliba, Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera increasing the demands on Arsenal’s defensive options.
Although Konsa is now managing two separate physical problems, Tuchel’s assessment suggests neither is considered serious.
The defender will have the remainder of the week to receive treatment and recover before Arsenal face Leeds United.
White and Mosquera are also expected to overcome their respective problems soon, potentially providing Arteta with additional defensive options.
Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber has recently returned from a long-term groin injury, offering another boost to Arsenal’s defensive depth.
Konsa’s availability against Leeds remains uncertain, but England’s decision to withdraw him appears to have been precautionary rather than a response to a serious injury.
