THESSALONIKI, GREECE - OCTOBER 01: Jurrien Timber of Netherlands speaks to the press after the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Greece and Netherlands at Toumba Stadium on October 01, 2026 in Thessaloniki, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
THESSALONIKI, GREECE - OCTOBER 01: Jurrien Timber of Netherlands speaks to the press after the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Greece and Netherlands at Toumba Stadium on October 01, 2026 in Thessaloniki, Greece. (Photo by Milos Bicanski - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber says he is yet to reach full match fitness and must be ‘very smart’ about his return to first-team action to avoid further injury.
It has proven a deeply frustrating period for Timber over the last year, with a groin problem keeping the Dutchman sidelined for two months in the back-end of Arsenal’s title-winning campaign.
Given Timber had returned from an ACL injury in his debut season at the Emirates to establish himself as arguably the finest right-back in the Premier League, his latest setback will have come as a bitter blow.
Despite featuring in Arsenal’s Champions League final loss to PSG in May, the 25-year-old was not deemed fit enough to be considered for the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign in the summer..
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Determined to avoid a recurrence of the injury, Mikel Arteta has been keen to take a cautious approach with Timber’s fitness in the intervening months – and full-back did not appear in any of the Gunners’ pre-season fixtures.
Timber made his long-awaited return as a substitute in Arsenal’s victory over Sunderland last month before playing an hour of the champions’ defeat to Brighton prior to the international break.
It was enough to earn Timber a call-up to Xavi’s Netherlands squad and the former Ajax man was handed a start against Greece in the Nations League.
Jurrien Timber
The Dutchman was forced to miss this year’s World Cup (Picture: Getty)
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. DataCo restrictions apply See www.football-dataco.com Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jamie Johnston/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock (17148203hl) Jurrien Timber of Arsenal warms up pre-match during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. 12/09/2026 Sunderland v Arsenal Premier League, the Stadium of Light, Tyne and Wear, UK - 12 Sep 2026
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. DataCo restrictions apply See www.football-dataco.com Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jamie Johnston/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock (17148203hl) Jurrien Timber of Arsenal warms up pre-match during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. 12/09/2026 Sunderland v Arsenal Premier League, the Stadium of Light, Tyne and Wear, UK - 12 Sep 2026
He then dropped back down to the bench versus Serbia this weekend, telling reports ahead of the clash: ‘I have to be very smart about the steps we take.
‘Otherwise, I’ll suffer a setback, and I don’t want that.
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‘I want to play every game and take part in every training session.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by EYE4images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (17180706la) Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber during the UEFA Nations League match between Greece and the Netherlands at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki, on October 1, 2026. Greece v Netherlands - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A2 MD3, Thessaloniki - 01 Oct 2026
Mandatory Credit: Photo by EYE4images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (17180706la) Netherlands defender Jurrien Timber during the UEFA Nations League match between Greece and the Netherlands at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki, on October 1, 2026. Greece v Netherlands - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A2 MD3, Thessaloniki - 01 Oct 2026
‘However, the physios advise me on what is best for me. So, I need to listen to them carefully.’
[MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Copa/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Copa/Getty Images)](https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/03/pep-guardiola-plans-surprise-man-city-return-premier-league-verdict-29675732/)
Speaking exclusively to Metro last month, Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs which specialises in injury welfare and performance analytics, explained why every precaution was being taken with Timber’s rehabilitation.
‘The smart thing for Arsenal to be doing at this time would be to manage his load,’ Smith said.
‘To try and create rotation opportunities for him to rest and recover and refuel the tank.
‘The output Arsenal try to deliver physically is huge so it makes total sense given the injury history and his importance to the team to ensure they don’t run into the same issues they had before.’
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