Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has said that Jurrien Timber has a chance of being included in the squad for Sunday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Timber made the move to the Emirates Stadium from Ajax last summer and was expected to have an important role to play for the Gunners during the 2023-24 campaign.
However, the Netherlands international suffered a serious knee injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest on August 12, and he has been on the sidelines since.
Timber has now been back in training for a few weeks, and he made his long-awaited return from the ACL injury for Arsenal Under-21s against Blackburn Rovers Under-21s on Monday, scoring a stunning goal in the game.
The 22-year-old now has a chance of being named in the squad for the North London derby.
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Jurrien Timber could be in the squad against Tottenham
"We have to make that decision tomorrow after the training session. He's very close, I don't know if this is too early, but he's very close now," Arteta told reporters during his press conference on Friday.
Timber is currently Arsenal's only injury concern, with the Gunners having a strong squad for their push for the Premier League title in the closing stages of the season.
"It's good headaches though! Yes, you feel for the players a bit as well because of how much they want it and how much everyone wants to start and contribute to the team and impact the team in the right way, so it's always difficult and it's part of the job," Arteta added.
"As well, they're fully ready to come on the pitch at whatever time we need them to try to help us win the matches. Their spirit is so good."
Arsenal thumped Chelsea 5-0 in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, and the capital outfit are top of the table, one point ahead of second-placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
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Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will be "fully ready" for derby
"Now we are there. We have to look at ourselves and try to perform in the best possible way to win our matches and I can't wait to see what happens. That's what we discuss. It sounds a bit repetitive but it's what we have to do," said Arteta.
"We're going to be fully ready. We've had a bit of time as well to recover and prepare from the Chelsea game. I'm sure the team is going to be fully ready to go again on Sunday.
"I have always trusted my players, then from there you can perform. I can make right or wrong decisions, to have the team win or not win in the best possible way. That was a very particular match, with many situations but certainly we learned, we tried to evolve from there, we tried to get a squad that was better equipped.
"We all had experiences that hopefully helped us to develop and be better and on Sunday we will have to show it again."
Following the clash against Tottenham, Arsenal will face Bournemouth (H), Manchester United (A) and Everton (H) in their final three matches of the 2023-24 campaign.
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