Jurrien Timber has admitted he is wary of another setback as he continues his return from injury. The Arsenal defender will hope to stay fit and play a bigger role for Mikel Arteta this season.
Arsenal
Full name: Arsenal Football Club Nickname: The Gunners Founded: October 1886 Stadium: Emirates Stadium Owner: Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Co-chairmen: Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke Manager: Mikel Arteta League: Premier League Season 2025/26: Champions Website: arsenal.com Arsenal football club is one… Read More about ARSENAL
Arsenal star Jurrien Timber has admitted he is worried about suffering another setback as he continues his return from injury, as per latest news. The Arsenal defender has had another frustrating spell on the sidelines this season and has played only 105 minutes for the Gunners so far. With Arsenal entering a busy part of the campaign, Timber knows that returning to regular football is important, but staying fit will be even more important.
Jurrien Timber taking no risks with Arsenal return
Timber’s return to action has been carefully managed after the defender missed pre-season with a groin problem. The 25-year-old eventually returned to competitive football, but Arsenal have been careful with his minutes. As reported by TEAMtalk, the club will want him to build his fitness step by step instead of putting too much pressure on him at once.
Timber also featured for the Netherlands during the international break. He played 78 minutes against Greece after making a short appearance against Serbia. The minutes were useful for his fitness, but Timber knows that he still has work to do before he can return to playing regularly for Arsenal.
Jurrien Timber’s 2026-27 Premier League stats for Arsenal, as per FOTMOB:
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Appearances Starts Minutes played Chances created Defensive contributions Successful passes(%) Duelswon(%)
3 1 105 0 5 84.2% 71.4%
The defender also admitted that he wants to play as much football as possible. However, he understands that his desire to return cannot come at the expense of his recovery. ***“I have to be very smart about the steps we take. Otherwise, I’ll suffer a setback, and I don’t want that,***” Timber said.
That comment shows how careful Timber wants to be with his recovery. The Arsenal defender has already experienced the frustration of watching his team from the sidelines. Another injury would not only keep him out again but could also make it harder for him to build a regular place in Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal injury news adds to Arteta’s concerns
Timber’s return comes at a time when Arsenal have suffered another injury concern. Christos Tzolis picked up a hamstring problem while playing for Greece against the Netherlands and was forced off after only 18 minutes. The winger has since returned to London for further assessment, with reports suggesting that he could be out for around two to three weeks.
That could see Tzolis miss Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with Leeds United on October 10. He could also be unavailable for the club’s Champions League games against Lille and Bayern Munich if his recovery takes longer than expected. For Mikel Arteta, another injury is not ideal with the schedule becoming more demanding.
Arsenal - Group
Arsenal - Group
Why Jurrien Timber could be crucial for Arsenal
When fit, Timber gives Arteta several options in defence. The Dutchman can play at right-back or centre-back and is also comfortable when Arsenal have the ball. His ability to play in different positions gives Arteta more freedom when he wants to change his defensive setup during a game.
However, Timber’s value to Arsenal also makes it important that the club does not rush him back. A quick return followed by another injury would be worse than giving him extra time to build his fitness. After the problems he has faced, Timber needs a long period of regular football rather than another short return.
Author’s opinion
In my view, Timber is right to be cautious about his return**.** Arsenal have little to gain from rushing a player who has already suffered several injury problems. Timber does not need to prove that he can return quickly; he needs to prove that he can stay fit. If Arsenal get that balance right, he could become one of Arteta’s most useful defensive players as the season moves forward.