Jurrien Timber to feature for Arsenal U21 today as he steps up ACL comeback
|Arsenal fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Jurrien Timber edges closer to a first-team comeback.
As per the Evening Standard, the 22-year-old defender has travelled with the club’s under-21 squad for their upcoming Premier League 2 clash against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
The Netherlands international is expected to get minutes as he steps up his recovery after a knee injury nightmare.
Timber’s Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest last August turned sour as he suffered a serious knee ligament injury.
However, after months of dedicated recovery, he has rejoined full first-team training and is now set for match action with the U21s – a crucial step in his return journey.
Arsenal remain hopeful that the Dutchman could feature for the first team before the end of the season and potentially play a key role in their title ambitions.
Arsenal faithful were buzzing after seeing Timber’s pre-season performances. His ability to seamlessly slot across the backline, even thriving as an inverted left-back venturing into midfield, fuelled the excitement and anticipation.
While an immediate return this season remains uncertain, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is confident that the £40 million defender will be a cornerstone for the club’s future.
Timber’s return will come as a major boost for Arsenal during the run-in, with the Gunners firmly in the race to end their 21-year wait for the coveted Premier League title.
Last week’s 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa threatened to derail their ambitions, and it got worse after they crashed out of the Champions League quarter-finals following a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.
However, they responded to the setback by comfortably dispatching Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium to restore their title credentials.
While their Champions League campaign ended in heartbreak, the Gunners are now free from any distractions and can focus on their Premier League title ambitions.
Arsenal will host Chelsea in a mouth-watering London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening, knowing nothing but maximum points will do for their title challenge.