Ezri Konsa is “available” to make his debut for Arsenal against former club Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.
The centre-back joined the Gunners from Villa in a deal worth up to £55 million, including up to £4 million in potential add-ons.
The England international did not sign his four-year contract in time to feature in the Premier League opener against Coventry City last Friday, which Arsenal won 3-0 at home.
But it now looks as if he could kick off his career for the north London outfit at Villa Park of all places, with the two clubs set to face off there on Monday night.
Konsa set for debut as Arteta delivers Arsenal injury updates
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of the game, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said that Konsa “is available” for selection against Villa and “has been training really well.”
Asked whether he will get a good reception at Villa, the Basque native responded: “I hope so, but I don’t know. It’s not down to us.”
Bruno Guimaraes could also be in line to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal on Monday. The Brazilian midfielder featured in the Community Shield win over Manchester City two weeks ago, but missed out on the Coventry game due to a groin issue.
“We just managed the last few days with him,” said Arteta. “He’s been out on the pitch doing training sessions, but we need to manage his load in order to get to Monday and for him to get selected.”
Jurrien Timber is recovering well from a groin injury that ruled him out of the FIFA World Cup, but William Saliba continues to be sidelined with a back problem.
“Jurrien is progressing really well. Let’s see how he ends this week. We have increased his load so if everything goes well then next we can step it up again.
“Willy is in a much more conservative program right now. That’s going to take a while.”
Arteta subbed off star players Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard off early against Coventry, suggesting he is still managing the players who featured heavily at the World Cup. New signing Christos Tzolis and Riccardo Calafiori were also taken off in the game.
“For some of them it was physical as they still can’t last the 90 minutes and we didn’t want to expose them. Others were tactical, or a feeling that I have in the game.”
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