Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Champions League on Saturday night, and Mikel Arteta’s side have today flown to Hungary
Jurrien Timber has handed Arsenal a huge injury boost ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Netherlands international returned to training this week after a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a groin injury.
But having come through this week’s training sessions, Timber was part of the Gunners squad that boarded a flight to Hungary on Thursday afternoon.
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The full-back suffered a groin injury during the Gunners’ win over Everton back in March, and he’s missed his side’s last 14 games in all competitions.
As it stands, it remains unclear whether Timber will be named in the matchday squad when his side face PSG on Saturday evening, but he now appears to be in contention to make a return.
And Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Timber is the only player in world football who can keep PSG livewire Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet.
“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.”
Also pictured boarding the flight were Declan Rice, Ben White, David Raya, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, William Saliba, Tommy Setford, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
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