Mikel Arteta has admitted Ezri Konsa is carrying an issue after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Slavia Prague, leaving the defender’s availability in doubt ahead of the meeting with Hull City on Saturday.

The Arsenal manager did not offer a reassuring update after the final whistle, saying the summer signing was withdrawn because of a problem and because of the heavy load he has been asked to manage in recent weeks.

“He is obviously playing a lot. He’s played so many games in the last few weeks,” Arteta said of Konsa.

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

Konsa is now set to undergo further checks before Arsenal face Hull City, and any sign of a genuine injury would likely lead to a cautious approach from Arteta. With the November international break approaching, the club may have some breathing space if recovery is required.

The defender has already passed the 1,000-minute mark in all competitions during his debut Arsenal campaign, having featured in all but two of the team’s matches in 2026-27. Those two absences came in August, before his move from Aston Villa was completed.

His impact has been immediate, with Konsa emerging as Arsenal’s strongest summer addition and one of the standout new arrivals in the Premier League. He has filled the role left by William Saliba without disrupting the team’s rhythm.

If Arsenal do need to manage his minutes, Mosquera is available to step in alongside Gabriel, while Saliba is also back in contention after missing the start of the season with a back injury. The French defender travelled to Czechia and was an unused substitute, though a recall straight into the XI may be considered too soon.

Declan Rice also remains central to the discussion around Arsenal’s workload. He again influenced the win in midweek, but his minutes have been watched closely after a demanding run that included last season, the 2026 World Cup and the current campaign.

Arteta brushed aside concerns when asked about Rice completing the full 90 minutes. “The game required it, and he did,” he said. “He was as 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.”

Club Brugge forward Nicolò Tresoldi is emerging as one of the more intriguing names in the market, with interest reportedly building from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. At 22, the striker has moved from relative obscurity to the centre of a transfer story that now looks increasingly difficult to ignore.

Born in Italy to longtime Serie A journeyman Emanuele Tresoldi, he spent his teenage years developing in Germany with Hannover 96. He made his professional debut there and went on to become a regular in Bundesliga 2 during 2024-25, scoring seven goals in 34 league appearances before Brugge signed him in the summer of 2025 for €7.5 million ($8.8 million).

That move has already looked shrewd. Tresoldi’s first season in Belgium produced 19 goals across the regular campaign and playoffs, the highest total in the league, as Brugge won the title. He also found the net three times in his first Champions League season, including against Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

The opening months of 2026-27 have pushed him further into view. He has 13 goals in 15 appearances for Brugge, with a hat trick in the 4-3 victory over Inter Milan standing out as the moment he truly announced himself. His European record this season reads four Champions League goals in three matches, while domestically he has eight in 10 league games.

His impact is not limited to club football. Tresoldi has scored 10 goals in 10 matches for Germany’s U-21 side during the Euros qualifying campaign. With an Italian birth, an Argentine mother and an Italian father, he has said he will wait until the end of the 2027 U-21 Euros with Germany before deciding which country to represent at senior level.

As a player, he profiles as a classic No. 9, operating inside the box with sharp finishing and strong back-to-goal play. He also offers link-up quality, according to former teammate and current Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis. Arsenal’s reported interest comes as they look for a new striker after Viktor Gyökeres has struggled in north London, while Liverpool have already seen what can go wrong after signing Darwin Núñez following his prolific spell at Benfica. Tresoldi, meanwhile, has the profile of a forward clubs believe can make the step up.

Arsenal have moved beyond the defensive injury issues that threatened their early-season rhythm, but Mikel Arteta is now dealing with a different concern at the sharp end of the pitch.

The latest blow centres on Bukayo Saka, who has been ruled out after making an injury-free start to 2026/27 following two straight seasons disrupted by lay-offs. His night against Bayern Munich ended after only 10 minutes at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

“It doesn’t look good at all, but we have to wait and see,” Arteta told reporters afterwards. “It’s his quad. It was early in the game, and the level of intensity his game requires is something incredible. The quality, strength and attention you need has to be at the highest level, and those things happen unfortunately.” In an earlier response to TNT Sports, the Gunners manager said it is “never a good sign” when a player is withdrawn because of a “a really sharp pain.”

Saka has long had problems in the thigh and hamstring area, from minor issues to longer spells out. At one point in 2024/25, he missed 99 consecutive days while also being on track to break the Premier League’s single-season assist record.

Arsenal still need more information before they can judge how long he will be absent, but the early signs point away from a quick recovery.

That situation may expose the club’s summer decisions. Arsenal did not add another wide forward, and their willingness to keep moving Gabriel Martinelli on without a replacement could now become a major issue.

The club knew upgrades were needed after winning the Premier League and missing out in the Champions League final. Leandro Trossard, dependable but limited, was replaced by Christos Tzolis, yet that was only part of the wider plan. Interest in Morgan Rogers ended when he joined Chelsea, Bradley Barcola chose Liverpool, and Vinícius Júnior signed a new contract with Real Madrid.

Arteta was clearly not satisfied with Martinelli, who initially resisted leaving. Arsenal wanted to cash in, but without a proven upgrade, the decision may have left them short in a position where options are already limited.

Saka’s replacement in Munich was Eberechi Eze. The 28-year-old, signed for big money ahead of last season, is naturally a No. 10 rather than a winger, but has had to cover on the left after Martinelli’s exit. He scored against Bayern, making it two Champions League games in a row with a goal, yet his overall output remains underwhelming.

Noni Madueke started against Bayern because Tzolis, who is loosely expected back in November, is still unavailable. The England international has also failed to make a strong case, having been used since the international break because there are few better alternatives.