Mikel Arteta says Jurrien Timber is fully available and ready to begin Arsenal’s Champions League final on Saturday against Paris Saint-Germain, a timely lift for the Gunners.
The versatile Dutch defender has been sidelined for a stretch of time, not featuring for Arsenal since being substituted during the opening half of the 2-0 Premier League victory over Everton on March 14. The exit sparked a spell of fitness problems involving both an ankle and the groin.
Arteta’s update comes after a recovery that has taken longer than first hoped. Timber has missed the club’s last 14 matches in all competitions and did not play in the closing game of the domestic season, even as Arsenal secured the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
Quick facts
- Mikel Arteta believes Jurrien Timber is fit and ready for Arsenal’s Champions League final on Saturday.
- Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest.
- Timber last played for the Gunners after going off in the first half of the 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on March 14.
- He has been dealing with ankle and groin issues.
- Timber has missed Arsenal’s previous 14 games across all competitions.
- He returned to training earlier this week and was named on Wednesday in the Netherlands World Cup squad by Ronald Koeman.
Despite initially looking like a serious uncertainty for the showpiece in Budapest, Timber got back into training earlier this week. He was subsequently included in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad on Wednesday by Ronald Koeman, even though he has had limited recent playing time.
