Arsenal could welcome a couple of big names back to action just in time for the UEFA Champions League final.
Jurrien Timber could be available for selection when Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final later this month. The 24-year-old defender, who suffered a groin injury during the Gunners’ win over Everton in March, was at the heart of the action during the Premier League title celebrations on Tuesday night.
He and his teammates gathered at the Sobha Realty Training Centre to watch Manchester City’s clash against Bournemouth. The Cherries held Pep Guardiola’s side to a draw at the Vitality Stadium, crowning Arsenal as the new champions of England.
Upon the full-time whistle, pandemonium broke out at the training ground, with players and staff coming together to create a big huddle. Timber, who’s been out for eight weeks and missed the last 13 games across all competitions, uploaded a video to social media of himself jumping up and down as his colleagues hurled Andrea Berta into the air.
The Netherlands international was then one of a handful of players to be spotted arriving at the Emirates Stadium in the early hours of the morning. He was joined by Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Declan Rice, who posed for a group picture.
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The former Crystal Palace midfielder uploaded the shot to Instagram, which chalked up nearly half a million likes in just three hours. Captioning the post, Eze wrote: “God alone decides. 22 years? Hold that [trophy emoji].”
Before Timber and his teammates left the training ground to continue their title celebrations, he posted another video on his Instagram story. The Dutchman filmed Saka standing next to a silhouette of the Premier League trophy, which Mikel Arteta promised to illuminate once they’ve won it.
The Hale End graduate said: “Light that up! Let me tell you something… 22 years, they was laughing, they was joking, they’re not laughing anymore. It’s going to be shining, shining bright!”
Timber didn’t appear to be in any discomfort during the title celebrations despite fears that he could miss the Champions League final on May 30. Earlier this week, Ronald Koeman provided an update on the defender’s injury.
As quoted by the Mirror, the Netherlands boss, who will name his World Cup squad on May 27, said: “Jurrien has been dealing with this for quite some time. It has been on and off.
“He is now training up again to see if he can make the Champions League final and if he is available for the World Cup. It does not look rosy at the moment.”
Arteta has previously claimed that Timber was dealing with a complex issue. Speaking to reporters following the win over West Ham, the Arsenal boss said: “He wanted to be very close to the team [against West Ham].
“He’s progressed a little bit in the last few days. He’s feeling better. We’re going to try to get him fit and available as quick as possible, but let’s see. Obviously, he’s been out now for a while, unfortunately.
“He’s such an important player for us; we all know that. He’s doing everything that he possibly can to help the team in any capacity. We know his leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him. He’s trying everything he can.”
