Arsenal may have received a timely injury boost regarding defender Jurrien Timber, just as they approach a crucial period following the upcoming international break.
Timber, the versatile Dutch player, was forced to leave the pitch during the latter stages of Arsenal’s controversial Premier League draw against Brighton, causing concern at the Emirates Stadium.
The anxiety stemmed from the fact that Timber had previously missed nearly all of his first season in English football after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his competitive debut. This injury occurred shortly after his £34 million transfer from Ajax last summer.
Having returned to fitness at the end of last season, the 23-year-old Timber played twice before stepping up his preparations over the summer.
He then started in back-to-back Premier League matches for Arsenal against Aston Villa and Brighton and came off the bench against Wolves on the opening weekend of the new season. During the game against Brighton,
Timber initially appeared to continue playing despite discomfort, but manager Mikel Arteta, cautious not to risk aggravating the injury, substituted him with Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back.
As Timber left the pitch, he received warm applause from the Arsenal supporters, and his movement did not seem overly restricted, which provided some relief to the fans.
Further reassurance came from Arteta, who downplayed the severity of the situation, stating that Timber was suffering from cramp rather than a more serious injury.
This was a crucial clarification, particularly since Arsenal is already dealing with several other injury concerns. New signing Mikel Merino is set to be out for several weeks after injuring his shoulder during his first training session with the club.
Additionally, striker Gabriel Jesus is sidelined with a groin issue, while defender Takehiro Tomiyasu remains unavailable due to a knee injury. Full-back Kieran Tierney is also recovering from a hamstring problem sustained while playing for Scotland at Euro 2024.
Arteta explained the situation with Timber: “No, he was, I think, cramping,” Arteta told reporters when asked about a potential injury. “He got a kick in the first half and was cramping, so we had to take him off.”
As Arsenal looks ahead to a challenging schedule post-international break, they hope to have as many players fit as possible. The club faces a north London derby against Tottenham on September 15, followed by a crucial away game against title rivals Manchester City just a week later.
The fixture list becomes even more demanding with the start of their Champions League campaign. Arsenal will play their opening match of the new-look format away in Italy against Atalanta, the current Europa League holders, just three days before their visit to the Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners will also need to cope without key midfielder Declan Rice for the match against Tottenham, as he will serve a one-match suspension after being controversially sent off for two yellow cards against Brighton.
However, there is some good news as Raheem Sterling, who signed on loan from Chelsea, will be available for his debut against Spurs after missing the Brighton match. Loanee goalkeeper Neto, who joined from Bournemouth on deadline day, should also be available for selection.
Addressing Rice’s absence, Arteta said: “This is what happens. We have other players that can fulfill [the role], and we can give an opportunity to someone else.” Arsenal will undoubtedly need to rely on their squad depth and resilience to navigate this challenging period successfully.
