Arsenal have received a major boost over the fitness of Jurrien Timber, who has resumed ball work during the Gunners' training camp in Dubai.
The 22-year-old arrived for a £38.5m fee from Ajax in the summer to provide a versatile option in the Arsenal backline, having excelled centrally and on the right in the Netherlands.
Timber's competitive debut for Arsenal saw the Dutchman start at left-back in the Gunners' Community Shield success over Manchester City, and he retained his spot in the starting lineup against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Premier League season.
However, the defender's top-flight inauguration was cruelly cut short a few minutes into the second half as he hobbled off the pitch with a knee injury, which was later confirmed to be a serious ACL issue.
The nature of Timber's injury meant that he would be sidelined for several months, although fears that he will not play again this season have now been eased following a welcome sight on the Dubai training pitches.
Timber stepping up his rehab 💪
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 11, 2024
📺 Go inside training and watch the full behind the scenes in Dubai 👇
Timber joined up with the rest of the non-international Arsenal squad for their warm-weather camp during their break from competitive action, and footage from the Gunners' social media channel shows the Dutchman doing individual ball work.
Timber was observed taking part in passing drills and running seemingly pain-free, although it is still expected to be a while before the ex-Ajax man is deemed ready to return to full contact training with his teammates.
Mikel Arteta was asked about Timber's rehabilitation before last weekend's 2-0 FA Cup loss to Liverpool, and the Spaniard admitted to the press that he was not close to rejoining the rest of the squad.
"Unfortunately, that's a very long-term injury. He is doing really well but he is still far from being fit to train with the team, or something to compete with the team so we don't expect him back anytime soon," Arteta said.
Nevertheless, there is optimism that Timber will be back in red and white before the 2023-24 campaign comes to a close, but for the time being, the Gunners remain notably depleted on the left-hand side of defence.
© Reuters
Takehiro Tomiyasu will be absent for however long Japan are competing in the Asian Cup, while Oleksandr Zinchenko has missed the Gunners' last two games with a calf injury, and Kieran Tierney has ruled out a January return from his loan spell at Real Sociedad.
As a result, Arteta has been forced to deploy centre-back Jakub Kiwior in the left-back role against Fulham and Liverpool, and there have been suggestions that the Gunners could try to target a defensive reinforcement in the winter window.
Funds are limited due to Financial Fair Play regulations, though, and Arteta has insisted that his priority is to improve the current crop at his disposal, saying: "We are open in the transfer market but again the emphasis is on making the most out of the players that we have.
"We will work together with the club to understand whether there are any possibilities and if we have any good options, but first of all focus on the players that we have."
Fabio Vieira (groin), Thomas Partey (thigh) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) make up the rest of the Gunners' infirm players, although the latter is expected back imminently, while Mohamed Salah is away with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ben Knapton
