Mikel Arteta says Jurrien Timber’s recovery has proved more complicated than expected and admits he is unsure whether the Dutchman, or fellow long-term absentee Mikel Merino, will play again this season.
Timber was a near ever-present in Arteta’s starting line-up until the middle of March, but has now missed the last 11 games with an unspecified issue. Premier Injuries lists it as a groin or pelvic problem, while Transfermarkt suggests it relates to his ankle.
The right-back spent much of the second half of last season managing an ankle issue and eventually underwent surgery following May’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, a procedure that delayed his return for pre-season.
The timeline for Merino’s recovery always made a return this season uncertain. He was still on crutches at the end of March, though he is now back on the grass, albeit away from the main group.
Even if neither feature again for Arsenal, both will be desperate to ensure their injuries do not jeopardise involvement at the World Cup, which begins in just over a month.
Asked for an update on the pair, Arteta said in his pre-West Ham press conference: “No chance for the weekend. I don’t know [if they’ll play this season], there’s still a fair bit to do.
“Everything has to be so smooth and quick if they want to have a chance to play any minutes.”
Pressed specifically on Timber’s situation, the manager admitted the recovery has taken longer than expected.
“Yes, and that’s probably been the most difficult thing to manage with the player, with myself as well, because we didn’t expect to take so long, and at the moment he’s not fit to play.”
In Timber’s absence, Ben White has re-established himself as Arteta’s first-choice right-back. After a difficult opening to the campaign, the England international has rediscovered his rhythm and, with Bukayo Saka fit again ahead of him, the pair have rekindled a partnership that has underpinned much of Arsenal’s best attacking football in recent seasons.
“When you talk about the right unit, for example, the amount of minutes that they’ve played this season has been extremely low for different circumstances, and it’s great [they’re back].
“They have a really good connection, really good understanding, they have played many years together, and you can sense and notice that in a really positive way.”
While Arsenal’s injury record this season has been frustrating, to the point the club have reportedly commissioned an independent review, the fact only Timber and Merino are currently sidelined at such a crucial stage of the campaign represents a marked improvement on this point last year, when several key players were struggling through games.
With four matches remaining and more recovery time between fixtures, there is hope that a deeper pool of fit players can help Arsenal finally end their wait for silverware.
“It’s very important,” said Arteta. “It was great to witness the quality that we had on the bench the other night. If you compare that to a year ago, that’s a very different picture.
“We have managed in the last week or so to have some more players fresher, and you could sense that as well.
“I said it from the beginning, that’s the most important thing, if we have that we have a bigger chance to achieve the goals.”