Arsenal are hopeful that Jurrien Timber will be fit to feature in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal are just a few days away from the Champions League final against PSG and have been given a major Jurrien Timber injury boost.
The Dutch international returned to training this week after a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a groin injury.
There had been hope the Dutch international would be fit to play a part in Arsenal’s Premier League run in, but he was not risked and the Gunners claimed their first top-flight title in over two decades.
However, the club are on the brink of a historic double, should they defeat PSG this weekend and Timber’s fitness is a major talking point.
With that in mind, football.london has rounded up the latest news on Timber’s return:
Major fitness boost
The Independent claims Timber has come through his first training session since returning from injury just in time for Arsenal’s Champions League final clash with PSG.
The 24-year-old has played for 70 days, after being forced off during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March due to a groin injury.
Mikel Arteta has a huge decision to make at right-back, with Ben White sustaining a medial ligament injury in the 1-0 win over West Ham United.
Cristhian Mosquera could be an option for the Gunners at right-back, if Timber is not fully match fit.
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Mikel Arteta verdict
Arteta was able to welcome Mikel Merino back into first-team training earlier this month and the Gunners boss is hopeful that Timber can follow suit.
“Jurrien, let’s hope that he can do the same [as Merino’s progress] in the next few days,” Arteta said. “He’s still a little bit further behind than Mikel at the moment.”
World Cup
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has provided an update on Jurrien Timber. On Wednesday evening, Koeman announced his 26-man squad ahead of the World Cup. The 63-year-old called up Timber but left Jeremie Frimpong at home, citing his availability as a concern.
During the press conference, Koeman revealed that the Arsenal star was due to train with Mikel Arteta’s side ahead of the Champions League final. The former Everton boss said: “We have two players on the standby list: Ian Maatsen and Lutsharel Geertruida, and this is linked to Jurrien Timber.
“The situation with him is that he was due to train with the squad today, to see how things look ahead of the weekend. They have the Champions League final on Saturday. We’ll have to wait and see if he’ll make it.”
‘He can keep PSG star quiet’
Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Timber is the one star who can keen PSG livewire K hvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet ahead of the final.
“We have this really unique situation,” Keown told football.london ahead of the Champions League final, which will be broadcast exclusively on TNT Sports and discovery+.
“I watched his tussle with Kvaratskhelia last season. I thought he had quite a titanic battle, didn’t he, with Timber, Kvaratskhelia? He’s maybe the one player in world football who can handle him, so I think it’s because of that he’s been given a bit more time.
“Ordinarily, somebody who’s been out that long, you’d say, ‘okay, it’s too late’, because he hasn’t played for 14 games. But he’s quite a unique player. His mobility and the way that he’s able to pinch the ball, and he’s very aggressive and very much a contact defender.”
Keown added: “Their two wingers are really aggressive, the way they take a game to you, and you have to be able to match that. So those match-ups are really interesting.”
