Ezri Konsa is back in full England training, two days after a knee knock kept him out of the 2-1 Nations League win over Croatia at Wembley.
The centre-back trained with the rest of Thomas Tuchel’s squad on Saturday morning, before the trip to Madrid to face Spain at the Estadio Metropolitano on Sunday (7.45pm UK time). According to the Evening Standard, he was spotted back with his team-mates at Hotspur Way, where he had been following his own programme since joining up.
For Arsenal, that is the news they wanted. Konsa has been one of the most reliable players in Mikel Arteta’s side this season, and he was one of the reasons the Gunners went into the break five points clear at the top.
Why did Konsa miss England vs Croatia?
The problem goes back to Arsenal’s 2-1 Champions League win at Slavia Prague, where Konsa took a whack on the knee. It didn’t stop him playing the full 90 minutes three days later, when Arsenal beat Hull City 1-0 at the Emirates.
England chose not to take a chance with him. As we covered earlier in the week, Konsa was ruled out of the Croatia game on Tuesday, and he worked on his own while the rest of the squad prepared for Wembley.
What did Tuchel say about Konsa?
The England manager laid out the plan in his press conference before Croatia, talking about Konsa and Djed Spence, who also sat that game out.
Tuchel said: “It’s my understanding at the moment that they will be both available but we will not take the risk. For tomorrow, both out for tomorrow.”
He added: “You saw it, they were not in training. They follow their own programme, and the understanding and the hope and the belief, I would say, is that they’re both in individual training on Friday, team training on Saturday and match ready on Sunday.”
So far, it has gone exactly to plan. Both Konsa and Spence, who has recently returned to fitness at Inter Milan, took a full part on Saturday.
Will he start against Spain?
Reports suggest both men have a chance of facing Spain if they prove they are fully match fit. Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn started at centre-back against Croatia, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lewis Hall at full-back, and Quansah’s error led to Petar Sucic’s equaliser. If Konsa is passed fit, Quansah is the one most likely to make way.
Tuchel has been short at the back all week. Marc Guehi pulled out of the squad with a hip problem, Bournemouth’s James Hill earned a first call-up and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite was also drafted in.
Spain vs England: what is at stake?
The win over Croatia sent England into the quarter-finals, so Sunday is about first place in Group A3. Spain have won all five of their Nations League games, including a 3-2 win at Wembley in September, and England need to beat them by three goals to top the group.
That is a big ask in Madrid, and it is also a game England can afford not to win. That matters for Arsenal fans watching from north London.
Konsa fit for Newcastle? Why Arteta needs him
William Saliba is still working his way back, so Arteta can’t afford to lose another centre-back for the run of games after the break. That run starts next Saturday with the trip to Newcastle United.
Konsa’s form this season has been good enough for Alan Shearer to call him the Premier League’s best player so far, and the knee knock now looks to be behind him. If he gets through Sunday without a problem, Arsenal will have their key defender back for St James’ Park.
Verdict: one more game, then home
The best outcome for Arsenal is simple. Konsa gets some minutes in Madrid, proves the knee is fine and comes home without a fresh knock.
We would not complain if Tuchel keeps it to an hour. England are already through, the group is a long shot, and Arteta has a title race to think about with Saliba not quite back. Saturday’s session was the first step. Sunday night will tell us the rest.
