When could Ezri Konsa make his Arsenal debut after proposed Aston Villa move?

Ezri Konsa could make his Arsenal debut against Aston Villa on August 31 if the Gunners complete a deal for the England defender but miss the registration deadline for Friday's Premier League opener against Coventry City.

Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of the 28-year-old after making him their leading defensive target this summer, with injuries to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber increasing Mikel Arteta's need for reinforcements.

A final agreement with Villa has not yet been reached, but Arsenal are increasingly confident following progress towards a compromise over the transfer fee.

Arsenal's first opportunity to hand Konsa his debut comes against newly promoted Coventry at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night.

However, time is extremely tight.

For Konsa to be eligible, Arsenal would need to complete the necessary transfer formalities and register him by 12pm BST on Thursday.

That means reaching a full agreement with Aston Villa, progressing through personal terms and completing the required medical and registration process in a short period.

Villa had reportedly valued Konsa at around £60m, a figure Arsenal were unwilling to meet. A breakthrough over a compromise has now allowed negotiations to accelerate, but the deal still needs to be finalised.

With the registration deadline approaching quickly, the Coventry fixture may simply come too soon.

If Konsa misses Friday's opener, Arsenal's next Premier League fixture creates an intriguing scenario.

The champions travel to Villa Park on August 31, meaning Konsa could potentially make his Arsenal debut against the club he is currently preparing to leave.

The fixture takes place just one day before the summer transfer window closes.

It would certainly add another storyline to Arsenal's first away match of the campaign, particularly given Konsa's importance to Villa over recent seasons.

FootballPlace understands that Konsa is keen on completing the move to Arsenal, meaning the remaining focus is on the clubs finding a final agreement.

Even if Arsenal complete the transfer quickly, Arteta must also consider Konsa's physical condition before immediately putting him into the starting XI.

The England international has not played any minutes during Aston Villa's summer friendlies or their UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Konsa was given additional time off after helping England finish third at the World Cup and has only recently returned to training at Bodymoor Heath.

That means he could be short of match sharpness even if he is available for selection.

His versatility nevertheless makes him an attractive addition. Konsa can operate centrally or at right-back, providing Arteta with cover in two positions while Saliba and Timber recover from injury.

The immediate question is whether Arsenal can complete the transfer quickly enough to register Konsa for Friday's season opener.

If they cannot, all eyes could turn towards Villa Park on August 31. A debut against his former club would provide a fascinating introduction to Arsenal, although Arteta may need to carefully manage Konsa's minutes given his lack of match preparation.

Would you start Ezri Konsa immediately against Aston Villa if his Arsenal transfer is completed, or give him more time to regain match fitness? Have your say.