Jurrien Timber injury latest as Arsenal face anxious wait over defender’s return

Arsenal remain without Jurrien Timber as the defender continues his recovery from groin surgery, with Mikel Arteta still unable to put a definitive timeline on the Dutchman's return.

The versatile defender has endured a frustrating few months after what initially appeared to be a minor injury developed into a longer-term problem, forcing him to miss almost the entire end of last season.

While Arsenal insist there have been no setbacks, Timber is expected to remain unavailable for the club's latest pre-season fixture.

Timber's injury dates back to March when he was forced off during Arsenal's Premier League victory over Everton with what was initially believed to be a minor groin issue.

The 25-year-old subsequently missed the Carabao Cup final, with Arsenal initially hopeful he would return immediately after the international break.

Instead, the recovery took far longer than expected after Timber suffered a setback during rehabilitation.

Speaking at the time, Arteta admitted the injury had become increasingly difficult to manage.

"We didn't expect it to take so long, and at the moment, he's not fit to play."

Timber eventually returned as a substitute in Arsenal's Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain but was not considered fit enough to start.

Following the season's conclusion, Arsenal and the Netherlands medical staff agreed that minor groin surgery offered the best long-term solution.

The operation was completed successfully, and Timber returned for pre-season rehabilitation over the summer.

Providing an update on his progress, the defender said:

"I'm getting there slowly. I'm trying hard, been rehabbing over the summer. Hopefully back soon."

Despite those encouraging comments, Timber was not involved in Arsenal's behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons and is also expected to miss the upcoming pre-season clash with Girona.

The defender briefly returned to London this week for a scheduled medical appointment before rejoining the squad in Spain, with Arsenal stressing that the visit formed part of his rehabilitation programme rather than indicating another setback.

Timber's absence, coupled with Ben White's gradual recovery from the knee injury that ended his campaign, has increased Arsenal's need for defensive reinforcements this summer.

Arteta values Timber's versatility highly, with the Dutch international capable of operating at both right-back and centre-back.

Until he returns, however, Arsenal are expected to continue exploring the transfer market for another defender capable of providing cover across the back line.

Arsenal will continue to manage Timber's rehabilitation carefully over the coming weeks, with no official return date yet confirmed. Arteta is expected to ease the Dutch defender back into action only when he is fully fit, while the club continues to assess defensive options before the transfer window closes.