A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta lands a welcome injury boost amid reports sporting director Edu held transfer talks with a £113m striker’s agents.
Timber could return from his injury for Arsenal’s U21s
Netherlands international Jurrien Timber could make his first appearance since sustaining an ACL injury last August when Arsenal visit Blackburn Rovers’ Under-21 side on Saturday. That is according to football.london, which reports ‘there is a chance’ for the 22-year-old to play.
The Gunners will visit the Lancashire FA County Ground on Saturday, March 16 for a Premier League 2 clash against Rovers’ academy. But Arsenal are also considering the fixture to hand Timber some minutes in a competitive setting after stepping up his rehabilitation in training.
Timber has regularly taken part in group sessions during recent weeks. But Arsenal are loath to rush the versatile talent back into first-team action and risk aggravating his injury. Timber needed surgery after sustaining an ACL injury just 50 minutes into his Premier League debut.
Read more about Arsenal star Timber’s potential return from an ACL injury, here.
Arsenal included a bonus clause in White’s new contract
Arsenal have included a bonus option to extend Ben White’s new contract to potentially lock him in until June 2029. That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who reports that the 26-year-old has put pen to paper on his fresh deal which will run until, at least, the summer of 2028.
White has been in north London since his transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2021. The right-back, who Arteta originally signed as a centre-half, has also now made 122 outings with the Gunners in all competitions. He has registered 39 of those appearances this season.
The Poole native has even scored twice and assisted four goals this term, having only scored twice and created five goals in his previous two terms combined. But what makes White so important for Arteta is his superb levels of consistency to produce at both ends of the pitch.
Read more about what Romano has had to say about White’s new contract, here.
Edu has held transfer talks with Osimhen’s representatives
Arsenal sporting director Edu has held talks with the representatives of Victor Osimhen over a transfer for the SSC Napoli striker. That is according to Charles Watts, who claims that Edu once hosted the 25-year-old’s camp at London Colney to discuss a transfer to the Gunners.
But rather than pursue the Nigerian marksman, Arsenal secured a transfer with Manchester City for Gabriel Jesus instead. Jesus was always the Emirates Stadium natives’ priority target at the time. Although Arsenal’s interest in Osimhen’s transfer remains ahead of this summer.
Doubts linger over if Arsenal can afford to sign Osimhen in 2024 along with their other goals for the market. Arteta and Edu want to spread their budget around in the off-season to take their whole squad to the next level. Osimhen is likely to cost his £113m release clause in full.
Read more about what Watts has had to say about Arsenal’s Osimhen interest, here.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
