Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a cautious warning regarding the fitness of new signing Ezri Konsa following the Gunners’ 2–1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague. The center back was forced to exit the match in the 62nd minute after visibly holding his knee and limping during the first half. Although Konsa showed resilience by continuing to play past the hour mark, Arteta confirmed the decision to substitute him for Cristhian Mosquera was driven by physical concerns. “He had some issues and we decided to take him off,” Arteta stated, leaving fans in north London anxious about the status of their key defensive asset.
Arsenal boss sounds alarm after summer signing limps off vs. Slavia Prague.
The immediate concern centers on the volume of minutes Konsa has accumulated in his debut campaign. The 29-year-old has already surpassed 1,000 minutes across all competitions, featuring in all but two of Arsenal’s matches in the 2026–27 season. Those two absences occurred in August, prior to the defender completing his transfer, meaning he has been a constant fixture in the starting lineup since joining. Arteta acknowledged this heavy workload, noting, “He is obviously playing a lot. He’s played so many games in the last few weeks,” suggesting that fatigue may have compounded the acute issue observed on Wednesday.
Further medical testing is scheduled for Konsa in the build-up to Saturday’s Premier League clash against Hull City. Should scans reveal any significant damage, Arteta is expected to exercise extreme caution, potentially resting the defender on the bench to protect his long-term availability. With Arsenal navigating a demanding schedule, the health of Konsa is critical to the team’s defensive stability. The club will likely monitor his recovery closely over the next 48 hours to determine if he is fit to start or if a precautionary rest is required to prevent a more serious setback.
Source: Sports Illustrated
