Mikel Arteta has delivered an update on Jurrien Timber, who is absent from Arsenal's matchday squad that faced AFC Bournemouth this evening.
Arsenal's defender missed the game because of a knock, with his participation in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain in doubt. He's now in a race against time to be fit for the trip to the Parc des Princes next week.
Timber has played an important role for Mikel Arteta this season, but injury troubles have continued to plague him.
His debut campaign was completely disrupted by a serious knee injury suffered in August 2023 against Nottingham Forest.
Speaking to Sky Sports before the game, Arteta addressed the fitness of Timber and Mikel Merino, who was dropped to the bench.
"Both of them were unable to start the game," the Gunners boss said. "Jurrien out, let's see how he evolves and the rest OK."
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Arteta will be hoping the Dutchman is fit to face PSG, with Arsenal needing a win over the French champions to secure a spot in the Champions League final.
In total, seven Arsenal players missed the Bournemouth game through injury. Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Jesus are out for the remainder of the season,
Kai Havertz remains out with a thigh injury whole Jorginho (chest) and Riccardo Calafiori (knee) sat the game out. Meanwhile, Neto was ineligible to face his parent club.
As for their European opponents, Luis Enrique took a very different approach, naming Joao Neves as the only first-leg starter in the lineup for PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg on Saturday afternoon.
Enrique also omitted Ousmane Dembele from his 19-man squad as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. As it stands, his availability for Arsenal's visit is highly uncertain.
Alongside Dembele, with Enrique confirming his absence, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, and Marquinhos also missed the 2-1 defeat with the quartet rested.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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