Arsenal supporters can celebrate as Jurrien Timber is set to make his long-awaited return to the Arsenal squad in their upcoming match against Bournemouth in the Premier League this Saturday.
The 22-year-old has been out of action since the first match of the season, when he suffered a serious ACL injury against Nottingham Forest. However, recent weeks have seen Timber step up his recovery, including making two appearances for the Under-21 side, where he notably scored an impressive goal against Blackburn Rovers.
Manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Timber came close to making the squad for the highly anticipated north London derby, but ultimately had to watch from the sidelines. Nevertheless, reports from The Evening Standard suggest that Timber’s wait may finally be over as the former Ajax player is confident of being involved in this weekend’s Premier League fixture.
Despite his extended absence, Timber has been making significant progress, playing 45 minutes against Blackburn’s Under-21s last week and then 70 minutes against Liverpool’s development team on Sunday. Having also come through team training unscathed, Arsenal’s medical team are on the brink of declaring him fit to face Bournemouth.
While Arsenal currently have a strong defence, Timber’s return will undoubtedly provide a significant boost, with Arteta frequently emphasizing the offensive qualities that the Dutchman brings to the squad.
As the season draws to a close, Timber is keen to contribute to Arsenal’s final matches, stating, “I can’t wait, the season is almost finished, we’ve got a few more games left and I hope to be a part of the team for the final few matches,” in an interview with the club’s website.
Arsenal’s upcoming fixture against an in-form Bournemouth side presents an opportunity for the team to further solidify their position, taking a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City hosts Wolves in the day’s evening kick-off.
The return of Timber brings a renewed sense of optimism to the Arsenal camp and has left fans eagerly anticipating the impact he will have on the team’s performance. As the team’s journey in the Premier League continues, all eyes will be on Timber as he takes his place back in the squad.