Timber returns to London from Arsenal training camp due to groin issue
Jurrien Timber, a defender for Arsenal, has returned to London from the club’s training camp in Spain. This move is connected to a groin injury that caused him to miss the end of last season and the World Cup. Sources indicate that Timber’s visit to London is part of his rehabilitation schedule and not a setback in his recovery. He is expected to rejoin the squad in Spain at a later date.
Timber’s recent injury history includes an ankle issue that sidelined him for two months towards the end of last season. He managed to return for the Champions League final, where Arsenal faced Paris St-Germain. Following this, a groin problem prevented him from participating in the World Cup.
Pre-season preparations and injury returns
Earlier reports indicated that Timber had travelled to Spain for Arsenal’s first public pre-season fixture against Girona, alongside Ben White and several other players. Both Timber and White were seen boarding a flight for a warm-weather camp in Catalonia. While their presence in the travelling party did not guarantee playing time, it allowed them to continue their recovery alongside the first-team squad.
Ben White had been out since sustaining a knee injury in Arsenal’s match against West Ham on May 10, which ended his season and his hopes of playing for England in the World Cup. He returned to team training before the squad’s departure and provided a positive update on his recovery, stating his knee was “all good” and he had started training with the team. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, is reportedly cautious about taking risks with either defender so soon after their injuries, but their involvement with the group is seen as a positive sign as the pre-season schedule begins.
The Arsenal squad in Girona was also bolstered by the return of Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Piero Hincapie after their post-World Cup breaks. They were joined by other players including Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, Cristhian Mosquera, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christian Nørgaard, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon, and Reiss Nelson. Additionally, eight academy players, whose ages range from 18 to 20, were part of the travelling squad, providing Arteta with an opportunity to assess emerging talent.
Upcoming fixtures and squad outlook
Arsenal is scheduled to play four friendly games starting in August, including matches against Girona in Spain and Real Betis in Dublin, followed by two fixtures in North London. The priority during pre-season is to build fitness rather than to finalize a starting eleven, with particular attention on the progress of White and Timber, as well as the pre-season work of Gyokeres, Havertz, and Hincapie.
Timber, who was Arsenal’s first-choice right-back, played 30 Premier League games last season when the team won the title. He joined Arsenal from Ajax in July 2023 for an initial fee of £34m, but missed a significant portion of his first season due to an anterior cruciate knee ligament tear. Arsenal is set to face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16, before starting their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry City on August 21.
Source: bbc.com
