Mikel Arteta has provided a significant update on the fitness of Jurrien Timber ahead of the FA Cup clash against Liverpool.
On the opening day of the Premier League season, Jurrien Timber saw his whole world come tumbling down after suffering a serious knee injury.
The 22-year-old was one of Mikel Arteta’s big-money acquisitions in the summer, arriving from Ajax for £39m.
He was brought into the club to provide cover on the left side of defence, offering strong competition for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Since being sidelined, the Dutchman has been a huge miss to the Gunners and left back is a position that has caused Arteta the most problems.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has suffered from injuries and is now away at the Asia Cup, Zinchenko has been criticised for his form and Jakub Kiwior isn’t good enough to start there having shown that in the defeat to Fulham.
All of those problems would be resolved if the Spaniard had Timber at his disposal, but unfortunately he’s going to have to wait a while longer before that happens.
Mikel Arteta provides Jurrien Timber injury update
In his pre-match press conference ahead of a tough FA Cup fixture against Liverpool, Arteta gave his verdict on Timber’s injury situation and revealed whether he would be back anytime soon.
He said: “Unfortunately, that’s a very long-term injury. He is doing really well but he is still far from being fit to train with the team, or something to compete with the team so we don’t expect him back anytime soon. It’s what we have; the situation that we have now as well with Tomi having to leave and we have to cope with that.”
Despite accepting he has to cope with their current injury-hit position, the 41-year-old is in the market for a new left back.
Arsenal are reportedly plotting a move for teenage wonderkid Jorrel Hato from Timber’s former club Ajax.
Dubbed as the ‘complete’ defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, perhaps the 17-year-old would fix their problems in the long term, but Arteta is in desperate need of a short-term fix otherwise their title chances could diminish.
That could come in the shape of Ferdi Kadioglu, whom Arsenal are reportedly preparing to make a bid for.
The biggest issue that cost Arsenal the title last term was injury to William Saliba. He was replaced by Rob Holding for the run-in and that proved costly.
After losing consecutive games against West Ham United and Fulham, they could slip further away from the title equation unless they resolve this issue, and fast.
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