Why Jurrien Timber may not have the 2024/25 Arsenal fans really want him to

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Arsenal fans are getting excited with Jurrien Timber set to be fit for the 2024/25 season but his ACL injury could still limit the defender.

The Dutchman will boost Arsenal as he will be like a new signing after returning from injury. Timber only featured sparingly at Emirates Stadium last term after suffering the injury on his Premier League debut.

Timber required surgery for his ACL injury, too, and only returned to Mikel Arteta’s side on the final day of the season in May.

However, fans must temper their expectations due to the realities of when a player returns from this type of injury.

Arsenal star Jurrien Timber suffered the worst injury in football

The ACL is seen as arguably the worst injury a player can suffer. This is why it was so awful to see Timber suffer such an injury almost immediately into his Arsenal career.

This injury saw him miss effectively the whole season with 45 games missed and 252 days out. But the road to recovery is not over, even though the 23-year-old has been back on the pitch. 

The reason why an ACL injury is so bad is that not only does it take a long time to recover, but also the injury itself can often reduce some of the physical attributes of the player.

This is why the recovery process is so important. An example some may point to is the loss of physicality that Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk has experienced since having his ACL injury. 

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There is also a mental aspect of the game. When a player suffers a serious injury it can affect their psychology, especially with a fear of reinjury, also known as kinesiophobia.

This is something that Arsene Wenger worried may happen to Aaron Ramsey after his leg break.

The positives for Arsenal with Jurrien Timber’s return from ACL surgery

It is not all doom and gloom for the defender. There are many positive signs that mean Timber’s chances of making a full recovery at Arsenal are improved.

First of all, he ended the season by getting some competitive minutes in a few games for the U21s and the senior team. This was all important to get a tester without re-injury. He managed time on the pitch without a major setback so, going forward, the club can be confident with more minutes.

Also, each month after eight months from injury the likelihood of reinjury reduces. Academic analysis shows that after eight months post-ACL recovery, each additional month reduced the risk of reinjury by 28%. This timeline is very beneficial for Timber.

Also, the timing of the injury meant that he was not forced to play too much during the season. But, instead, Timber can now enjoy a great pre-season to be able to return to fitness at Arsenal. 

This means the defender can build up his base levels and then focus on match sharpness during the 2024/25 season. 

Arsenal and their fans must be patient with his recovery

Going forward, Arsenal need to manage Timber’s workload carefully as ACL injuries have a high risk of re-injury and also have a high risk of connected injuries.

The extended time out from competitive minutes means that players decondition and are more susceptible to muscular injuries upon their returns.

The realities around the injury also mean that Arsenal’s fans must be patient as Timber comes to form. He may have setbacks and also, it can even take up to two years to get back to pre-injury levels.