Arteta Delivers Blow on Konsa Injury But Reveals a Glimmer of Hope

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted that star summer acquisition Ezri Konsa "had some issues" during the club's 2–1 victory against Slavia Prague, raising concerns among supporters in north London.

Konsa managed just 62 minutes in the Champions League fixture on Wednesday. The center back was spotted clutching his knee and hobbling during the first half, yet pushed through until he was eventually substituted by Cristhian Mosquera shortly after the hour mark.

Supporters nervously awaited news after the final whistle, but Arteta did little to ease their worries. "He is obviously playing a lot. He's played so many games in the last few weeks," the Spanish manager said regarding Konsa.

"He had some issues and we decided to take him off."

Konsa is set to undergo further assessment ahead of Arsenal's fixture against Hull City on Saturday. Should the tests indicate even a minor injury, Arteta will likely err on the side of caution and keep the 29-year-old out of the starting lineup.

Ezri Konsa's Minutes This Season

Konsa has already surpassed 1,000 minutes across all competitions in his first season at Arsenal. He has featured in all but two of the Gunners' games in 2026–27—both of which took place back in August, before the defender completed his move from Aston Villa.

He has undeniably been Arsenal's standout new signing, and among the finest arrivals in the entire Premier League. Konsa stepped into the shoes of elite defender William Saliba, and the Gunners have not skipped a beat.

The Silver Lining to Konsa's Injury

Should Konsa's problem prove more serious, the timing is at least somewhat fortunate for Arsenal. The reigning Premier League champions have just one more game remaining—a home encounter against newly promoted Hull City—before the November international break.

Konsa could use the two-week hiatus to recover from the problem should he require a longer spell in the treatment room.

Mosquera is more than capable of partnering Gabriel in central defense, but Arteta also has Saliba available as an option. The Frenchman missed the entire opening stretch of the season with a back problem, but he has since returned to training and made the journey to Czechia, where he remained an unused substitute.

Rushing Saliba back into the starting eleven after such a lengthy absence may not be the wisest move, but Arteta will be relieved to have the option available, particularly if Konsa is ruled out.

Arteta Brushes Off Concerns About Declan Rice

Central to Arsenal's midweek triumph was, once again, Declan Rice. The England international continues to cement his status as the finest midfielder in the Premier League and one of the best in world football.

However, following such a heavy workload last season, then at the 2026 World Cup and now into 2026–27, many have expressed concern over Rice's overall fitness. At times, the 27-year-old has appeared visibly drained, including in the closing stages of the win over Slavia Prague.

Another international window with England and a hectic festive schedule will only add further strain on Rice, but Arteta was dismissive of any concerns surrounding his key player's workload.

"The game required it, and he did," Arteta responded when questioned about Rice completing the full 90 minutes in Czechia. "He was also well rested against Fleetwood so he had a very good week to recover before Liverpool.

"It's his second game in a week and not the fifth one. We expect our players to be able to do that and I think he had some very good moments throughout the game."

It's a notably more defiant tone compared to his comments on Konsa's workload. It's also somewhat ironic given that Rice has played every minute of Arsenal's Champions League campaign to date, while also accumulating 764 minutes in the Premier League—more than 100 minutes ahead of Konsa's total.

Rice is expected to feature again at the weekend, and supporters will be hoping Arteta manages the midfielder's playing time should the Gunners build a comfortable advantage over Hull.