Arsenal have received a significant injury boost ahead of their Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, as Jurrien Timber has made his return to full training.
The former Ajax man memorably lasted just 50 minutes on his maiden Premier League appearance this time last year, suffering a devastating ACL injury against Nottingham Forest in matchweek one.
Timber subsequently spent months on the recovery table, but his rehabilitation went exactly according to plan, and he came off the bench against Everton in the final weekend of the 2023-24 campaign.
Following his cameo against the Toffees, Timber - who was not called up to the Netherlands' Euro 2024 squad - flew to the USA with his teammates for their pre-season tour and featured in friendlies against Bournemouth and Manchester United.
However, the 2-1 win over the Red Devils marked the final tune-up match that Timber would be involved in, as the Dutchman missed meetings with Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon due to a foot concern.
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Timber expected to be in contention for Wolves clash
Mikel Arteta affirmed that the defender's latest concern was not a serious one, though, and he told the media after the Emirates Cup win over Lyon that a training return was pencilled in for this week.
As expected, Timber was seen back in full practice with the North London giants on Wednesday morning, and the 23-year-old therefore seemingly has a good chance of making the squad to face Gary O'Neil's side.
However, Arteta is still expected to be without two defenders for the opening weekend, including the equally versatile Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has spent the whole of pre-season recovering from a knee problem.
The Japan international is expected to be out until the middle of September at the earliest, and there have been claims that Arsenal are open to selling him before the transfer window closes following a series of fitness problems.
In addition, left-back Kieran Tierney is still nursing the hamstring issue he sustained while playing for Scotland at Euro 2024, and there is no timeframe on his recovery either, but he could also leave in the coming weeks.
Could Timber or Riccardo Calafiori start for Arsenal?
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Gooners have been waiting extremely patiently to catch a glimpse of Timber in action, thanks in no small part to the Dutchman's ability to perform competently in almost any defensive position.
Timber largely played as a centre-back when he was available in pre-season but also impressed in a left-back role - a position where Arsenal have struggled for consistency - for the Under-21s during the final stages of his recovery last season.
As well as the ex-Ajax man, new signing Riccardo Calafiori made his debut on the left-hand side of the defence in the Emirates Cup, before shifting to a central role as Myles Lewis-Skelly saw out the game in that position.
A start for Timber on Saturday can likely be ruled out, but Calafiori is certainly an option to hold the fort alongside the three mainstays in Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
However, Oleksandr Zinchenko earned his keep in pre-season and should be named in the first XI this weekend, despite lingering concerns about his defensive capabilities.
Ben Knapton
