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Jurrien Timber Arsenal injury boost spotted days after major Mikel Arteta prediction

Arsenal injury news: Defender Jurrien Timber has been spotted walking without his crutches following Mikel Arteta’s ‘important’ prediction

Jurrien Timber Arsenal injury boost spotted days after Mikel Arteta prediction.(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal have been handed an injury boost, with new signing Jurrien Timber spotted walking without his crutches. The Dutch international arrived at the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window, signing for a fee in the region of £34.2million.

But after a promising pre-season, the 22-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the Gunners’ opening game of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, meaning he is likely to miss a large chunk of the season as a result. Timber has since undergone surgery, with the versatile defender now spotted alongside his teammates at the club’s London Colney training base taking part in the club’s squad picture for the season.

This comes just a few days after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta predicted the youngster to be very important in the north London outfit’s future “We are all human beings and you know that one plus one isn’t always making two,” the Spaniard said when asked about transfer business.

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“In the end, it’s a bet. When buying a player, it’s a bet – and that bet can go wrong… because it’s a human. You have to bring them from different countries, cultures and styles of play.

“Then they have to live and adapt within a different system and environment. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I feel extremely responsible, especially when we’re demanding to buy players for huge amounts. You have to make sure we’ve done the work to make it happen. But sometimes it doesn’t.”

“Look at Jurrien,” he continued. “We’re extremely happy but, for a different reason, we don’t have him on the field. We paid a lot of money and he’s a player that’s going to be really important. But it’s not working at the moment because he can’t fulfil his job. Sometimes, it’s for that reason. But sometimes they’re not fitting in because they’re not playing well enough – and the coach makes so many mistakes that he doesn’t get the best from a player.“