Arsenal handed ‘positive’ Jurrien Timber update as ‘defining’ return date targeted

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Arsenal are now expecting Jurrien Timber to return to action before the end of the season. 

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber sustained a serious knee injury on the opening day of the current Premier League campaign, and has been sidelined ever since. 

The Gunners paid £38 million to sign Timber from Ajax in the recent summer transfer window. The 22-year-old quickly generated plenty of excitement in north London with his impressive showings in pre-season.

To have had his start to life in north London harmed in such a cruel fashion will have been a bitter pill for both the player and Mikel Arteta to swallow, but his season may not be quite over yet. The injury will have been a major blow for Arteta who had big plans for Timber.

However, the 15-cap Netherlands international has worked hard on his recovery and has made excellent progress. 

The Daily Mail has now reported an update on Timber’s recovery process, stating that it is “positive news” for the Gunners, as Timber is edging towards a return to training with the full first team.

Whilst Arsenal haven’t yet put an exact date on when Timber will be ready to return to action, they are hopeful that he will be available for some of the “defining” fixtures that the club will have towards the end of the season. 

Arsenal still face left-back issue until Jurrien Timber returns

It would be a huge boost for Arteta to get Timber back before the end of the campaign. If the Gunners are still in the midst of a Premier League title race at that stage, then fatigue will be setting in, which will be all the more potent due to the pressure of the situation. Timber could have a decisive impact at that stage, as long as he is quickly able to get up to speed and recover his sharpness after such a long lay-off.

In the meantime, especially whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu is away competing at the Asia Cup with Japan, it is vital that Oleksandr Zinchenko is able to stay fit and in form. Without him, Jakub Kiwior is next in line to deputise at left-back, despite being a natural centre-back. 

As such, it is unsurprising to see that Arsenal are seeking to bring in a new full-back via the transfer window this month. Arsenal have been linked with a move for Roma left-back Leonardo Spinazzola, who is thought to be available for a cut-price fee due to his current contract situation.