Jurrien Timber suffered a significant setback on the opening day of the Premier League season when he sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury against Nottingham Forest. The injury occurred during the first half of the match, forcing him to undergo surgery and miss almost all of the season.
Timber’s road to recovery was long and arduous, involving a grueling rehabilitation process that required both physical and mental resilience. The 22-year-old’s determination to return to the pitch was evident throughout his recovery, as he worked tirelessly to regain his fitness and form.
After eight months on the sidelines, Timber made his long-awaited return to action with Arsenal’s Under-21 side in a match against Blackburn Rovers. His performance was nothing short of sensational, as he scored a stunning goal and completed 45 minutes of play. This match marked a significant milestone in his recovery and showcased his potential to make a significant impact for Arsenal in the future.
Timber’s comeback has been met with praise from Arsenal’s coaching staff, with Under-21 coach Mehmet Ali hailing him as a role model for the younger players. His successful return has raised hopes that he may soon be able to represent the first team before the end of the season.
Speaking about Timber, former footballer Alan Smith said losing the defender was a “huge blow” for Arsenal this season, citing the left-back position as a weak point for the Gunners, but his return to the first team will be “huge.”
“It will be huge [when he returns to the first team],” said Smith. “I saw that goal [for the U21s] and what a way to announce yourself coming back after a long time out! “I just remember when he first arrived at the club, everybody was so impressed about his ability and his character and what he brought to the dressing room.”
Smith added: “It was a huge blow to lose Jurrien Timber and left back is a problem position, there’s no doubt about that. They’ve tried three [Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu] in recent weeks and none have said ‘You know, that’s me, that’s who you should be picking,’ so Timber coming back would be great if he can return to league action. He will be a big boost!”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta recently spoke about Timber’s comeback, citing the North London Derby at Tottenham might be too soon for the defender to return on Sunday: “He has been training really good, he looks ready. He needs that exposure [with the U-21s] and after that we will assess whether that game [against Spurs] comes at the right time or too fast. We will try to get him with us for the final games.”
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