Fresh update emerges on Arsenal star hours before England clash

Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa is set to be included in England’s matchday squad to face Czechia on Tuesday night despite a fitness concern.

The 28-year-old and Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly both missed England’s main training session on Monday after playing the full 90 minutes of Saturday’s 3-2 Nations League defeat to Spain.

However, the latest update ahead of the game in Prague suggests Konsa has recovered sufficiently to remain available to Thomas Tuchel, while O’Reilly has been ruled out, according to the BBC.

Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha, who was left out of the matchday squad against Spain, has consequently been drafted back in as O’Reilly’s replacement.

Tuchel had described the problems affecting Konsa and O’Reilly as “minor issues” when discussing their absence from training, but was initially unable to guarantee either defender would be available.

Konsa’s inclusion therefore represents positive news for England and Arsenal, with the centre-back establishing himself as an important option for club and country.

The defender joined Arsenal from Aston Villa during the summer and has since featured regularly for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, while also retaining Tuchel’s trust at international level.

Konsa was included in England’s original squad for the extended Nations League window alongside Arsenal team-mates Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze.

Rice subsequently withdrew because of a fitness issue, increasing the importance of Arsenal’s remaining representatives staying healthy during a demanding international schedule.

Konsa has also been at the centre of one of Arsenal’s biggest refereeing controversies of the season after conceding a penalty against Sunderland earlier this month.

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel later unanimously concluded that the spot-kick should not have been awarded, although it narrowly supported VAR’s decision not to intervene because the original call was not considered clearly and obviously wrong.

David Raya ultimately saved Enzo Le Fee’s penalty as Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory.

Attention will now return to Konsa’s fitness as England attempt to respond to their opening Nations League defeat.

Tuchel’s side were beaten 3-2 by world champions Spain at Wembley and face Czechia at the Fortuna Arena at 7.45pm on Tuesday.

O’Reilly’s absence could hand Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall an opportunity at left-back, while Konsa’s availability gives Tuchel the option of retaining him alongside Marc Guéhi in central defence.

For Arsenal, the priority will be seeing Konsa come through the international fixture without aggravating the minor problem ahead of the return of Premier League football.

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