Jurrien Timber will feature for Arsenal’s under-21s tonight when they take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
The 22-year-old hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for more than 250 days after suffering an ACL injury in his right knee on the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
While the £34 million summer signing from Ajax has been training regularly with the first team for the best part of six weeks, manager Mikel Arteta has spoken with caution about thrusting the defender back into action prematurely.
The Spaniard, speaking from experience having ruptured his ACL back in 2009, said recently that he needs “certainty that the player is ready to go”.
Timber will likely play 45 minutes this evening and should follow it up with more game time in a behind-closed-doors friendly at London Colney in the next week before challenging for a position in the first team squad for the remaining matches of the season.
Realistically, we’re talking about him being available to play some part against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton. Whether that’s enough to persuade Dutch national team coach Ronald Koeman to pick Timber for Euro 2024 remains to be seen.
Either way, Timber’s return is positive news. Hopefully, we’ll get to see the best of him next season.
That’s great news. Can’t wait to see him back with the first team now ehn
All the best to him in his recovery. He will be a big bonus in out title defence next season
As keen as I am to see him play, I’m hoping we don’t need him and he can get extra recovery time ahead of next season.
Exactly my sentiments
Think it could do him actually a lot of good to play a bit and gain some match fitness, though perhaps ideally not in the most intense “must win” circumstances. I trust the medical team that this is the right thing in the current step of his recovery.
This has genuinely made my day & if it’s streaming somewhere I’ll be tuning in. We only saw glimpses but already love Timber
His realistic come back date should be the start of next season. Let the lad rest for this season.
Yea or very controlled games which aren’t competitive, like what he’s doing tonight. Give him summer to recharge and come back fully fit. no point rushing him He’s more use fixed properly next season
Next season’s LANS already in place!
Great News…plus a stream is available on Arsenal.com at 7pm..yay
Great news his recovery is nearly over, yeh i get the don’t rush him back brigade but if medical team says he’s good to go and Miki sees enough in training sessions that he will have an impact then he plays or be on bench to play, I also get players like Partey who overcome long periods of injury and returns looking as rusty as my old Ford Cortina m3 at a breakers yard maybe a good pre season under his belt be oven ready..
What a goal