Jurrien Timber has not been included in the Arsenal squad for the clash with Brighton & Hove Albion
14:19, 27 Dec 2025Updated 14:44, 27 Dec 2025
Jurrien Timber before an Arsenal game
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Jurrien Timber misses Arsenal vs Brighton(Image: Alex Bierens de Haan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta says Jurrien Timber was left out of the squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion due to an issue. The Spaniard has revealed that the full-back picked up a problem during the latter stages of the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in midweek.
As a result, the 24-year-old was left out of the squad with Declan Rice deputising at full-back. There was some positive injury news ahead of the showdown with Fabian Hurzeler's side with defender Gabriel Magalhaes returning to the matchday squad for the first time since the beginning of November after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with Brazil.
Pictures on social media emerged this morning showing Timber with his teammates alongside defensive duo Piero Hincapie and Gabriel, however, the issue means he will lose his record for being everpresent for the Gunners this season.
Arteta said: "We missed him because in the last part of the game he felt something and he could not carry on so he's out."
Although the absence of the Dutch full-back is a blow for Arsenal with Rice deputising in the full-back position, it is a timely boost for the North London club to welcome a key component of their backline to their squad.
Gabriel has formed a colossal partnership with William Saliba at the heart of the Arsenal defence, which has been the foundation for their recent title pushes.
Arteta said: "To all the medical (staff) and the player, they have all been pushing very hard and working extremely hard in the last few weeks to make him available for this game."
The Gunners have won just two of their last five matches against Brighton in all competitions but are unbeaten in their last three meeting with the South Coast club after two 2-0 wins, one of which coming in this season's Carabao Cup, and a 1-1 draw.
Arsenal faced a must-win showdown with the Seagulls after relinquishing top spot following Manchester City's 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
Rayan Cherki's late winner claimed the three points for Pep Guardiola's side after Tijani Reijnders' opener was cancelled out by Omari Hutchinson.
City's dramatic win at the City Ground opened up a one-point gap to Arsenal, having played a game more, but a point against Brighton would not be enough for Arteta's side to reclaim their place at the summit with the North West club boasting a better goal difference.
Speaking before Brighton's visit to the Emirates Stadium, Arteta said: "It's a club that I admire a lot and what they've done over the last 10 years is incredible.
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"They have different managers and now Fabian [Hurzeler] has come in and brought some very different ideas as well.
"A lot of energy, a really, really committed team and look very, very together. A lot of quality.
"They can play in different ways. They have versatile players. So it's going to be a tough match."