Arsenal and Mikel Arteta set for huge injury boost for Premier League run-in

Arsenal summer signing Jurrien Timber is closing in on his first-team comeback (Picture: Getty)

Jurrien Timber is in line to make his return to action after being selected in Arsenal’s Under-21 squad to take on Blackburn Rovers this evening.

Timber, 22, completed a £38.5million switch from Ajax to north London last summer got off his Arsenal career off to a winning start as Arteta’s men beat Manchester City to the Community Shield.

But the right-back suffered a devastating setback during his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest as he was forced off with a serious ACL injury in the 50th minute at the Emirates.

It means Timber has missed over eight months of action for the Gunners and the Netherlands international has slowly been working his way back, stepping up his rehabilitation with the club’s medical staff in recent weeks.

Timber – who has been pictured in training with Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad this month – looks set to feature tonight when Arsenal’s U21s take to the field versus Blackburn in Premier League 2.

It remains to be seen how many minutes Timber will be given at Ewood Park, with the club keen to take a cautious approach with the Dutchman given the severity the knee injury he sustained back in August.

‘He’s going to play a game with the U21s and after that we will see better where he is, how he felt,’ Arteta told reporters at a press conference.

‘He looks really good in training but it’s that last step now. We need to have the certainty that he’s ready to go.’

Timber has been pictured in Arsenal training this month (Picture: Getty)

Speaking to Arsenal’s official website in February, Timber opened up on his ‘difficult’ and ‘frustrating’ start to life in English football.

‘Of course at some points it’s been difficult, because you’re not playing, and that’s the thing you love to do,’ he said.

‘Sometimes you really want to join the team – when you are enjoying the game so much you really want to get down there and be part of it.

Arteta has been without the Dutch defender for eight months (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s frustrating, because sometimes it looks so amazing you want to be part of it.

‘But I use that as motivation during my recovery. I see the boys a lot, at the training ground but also at the games, and that’s been good for me too.

‘These months will definitely make me stronger.’

Timber felt there were some ‘positives’ to take from his period on the sidelines, with the full-back able to study and get to grips with how Arteta’s team operate.

‘It’s an opportunity for me to do well. So even though I’m not playing, I can take this moment to become stronger mentally, physically, and also to feel at home with this group of boys.

‘It’s an opportunity I’ve taken with both hands. I’ve had some more time to watch the team, see how we play, how I can fit in when I get on the pitch.

‘So looking at the positives, I think there have been many.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Arsenal news, exclusives and analysis

Sign upPrivacy PolicyThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Never miss a beat throughout the season or transfer window with weekly Arsenal news updates, exclusives and analysis. Sign up to Metro.co.uk’s Club Metro newsletter