Mikel Arteta has revealed Jurrien Timber has a small foot injury at the moment, which is why the Netherlands international wasn’t in the squad for tonight’s 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23 year old played a part in the US tour, but missed the game against Liverpool in Philadelphia, and was absent again this evening. Speaking afterwards, the Arsenal boss said, “With Jurrien he had a little discomfort in his foot the last few days. After the amount of time he has been out, we did not want to take any risks with him.”
The Arsenal boss was also quizzed about new signing Riccardo Calafiori, who wasn’t in the match day squad, but present with the team as part of his integration.
“With regards to Riccardo, so much has happened to him in one week,” said Arteta.
“He has come into a new environment, a completely different methodology, different training and we are managing him.
“We want to do it slowly, to get him in the best possible way. Hopefully on Sunday he will be available to play some minutes.”
The Gunners put the German champions to the sword, with goals from Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, and the Spaniard was pleased with his side’s performance on the night.
“We can take a lot of positives from the game,” he said. “Apart from the result, the way we performed. There were a lot of very positive aspects, collectively and individually as well.
“We take a lot from it. A lot of things to learn as well. We can improve, especially in the second half when we made certain changes. A really good test, against a really good team that is really well coached.
“It was a good performance.”
Little worried about Timber, I really want him to be successful here but another injury so soon isn’t a good sign.
I think it’s an inevitable sign for a player who has been out for 9 months.
I would think cautiously and brace yourself for a few more in the first half of the season.
Little niggles and setbacks are par for the course coming back from this kind of injury and long layoff, expecting him to get anywhere near his best before November is unrealistic.
That is both reassuring and worrying in equal measure.
We have cover.. Relax.
I said he was one injury away of being labelled injury-prone and first comment proved me right. A label paster popped up.
My comment is actually more similar to yours than it is calling him injury prone. I’m just saying that he’s injured again after just coming back from an injury, let’s keep an eye on this because yeah he probably is an injury or two away from that label.
Calafiori watching the first half.
“Is this real?”
“Possibly Atletico”
ironically the exact same thought I’ve had observing Calafiori’s amber-tinted locks flow down breezily from his scalp
I haven’t felt like this since Olivier. So I’m just going to take it slow. Recognise that I’m still vulnerable. Don’t allow my feelings to run away with me.
The 1st half was very fantastic, great football from us we didn’t allow them to breathe. The 2nd half was a bit off, it was even. Let keep the good work and keep fighting for each other on the pitch we going to have a fantastic season.. COYG
When we were being pressed its vital Raya knows where to go when going ”long” and puts it to a players feet and not up for a 50/50 header. That issue should be resolved because it seems it happened a few times today when it should have been a drilled exit route.
Love how the German announcer immediately shouted after his goal that Trossard is one of the best finishers in Europe. I didn’t think anyone outside of Arsenal fans would say that but it’s probably true, he’s just so lethal and cool-headed in front of goal, can always do damage even in limited minutes or opportunities, and has a bit of that Belgian swag to top it off too. C’est magnifique.
He’s so so good – better than any of us could have hoped. The left wing spot is his to lose and rightly so.
I think Martinelli will win it back but not because Tross will have lost it. They’re both brilliant players but if Martinelli is in scoring form then he provides both that and something nobody else on the team does, an outlet who can get in behind and also creates space for others just by the mere threat of his runs
My boys are just starting cook. Shame about timber, but he’s gonna have niggles due the long recovery. Tendons and ligaments in the ankles, feet and knees are not ready yet. Ease him in. But reckon he could be amazing
Not surprised by niggles with length of time out, would rather be safe and slow with him, like the rest of you I can’t wait to see JT have a run in the side, world class…..in Arteta I trust, in Arsenal I believe, no matter how we win or lose AFC through & through
Definitely to be expected with Timber after a long stretch being out, happens so often with major injuries. However, very likely is not related to his injury and could just be something he picked up (little injuries happen all the time in football and other sports). Thankfully we have lots of options now along the back line so Arteta has the luxury to give players sufficient time off to recover from small things so they don’t become big things.
Good careful management of Timber, we really care about his long term future and that’s great to see.
Even slight issues with the foot can cause tensions and imbalances further up the kinetic chain. So it’s wise not to let that have any chance to affect the old injury.
I think this shows how we are evolving in the prevention of injury front.
Even a small injury is taken seriously and we are aiming at really going the full distance this season and players have to both train hard as well as play hard in matches.
It’s going to be a long hard season with new expanded CL format and I’m assuming a new emphasis on cup games to give youngsters a denser richer pathway.