Jurrien Timber had dreamed of playing for Arsenal since his days in Ajax’s academy.
Upon his £38m move to the Premier League runners-up, the Amsterdam side released a video of a young Timber. When asked which club he might move to in the future – which, as an aside, shows the selling mentality of Ajax – Timber answered: “I’ve always been a fan of Arsenal.”
However, the dream lasted less than one hour of Premier League football before Timber hobbled off during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Here’s the latest on Timber’s injury status.
Arsenal’s lunchtime bout with Forest was postponed by half an hour as issues with a new e-ticketing system created a log jam outside the Emirates Stadium. There was another delay before the half-time interval as Timber clashed with Brennan Johnson.
Timber was judged to have fouled the Forest forward – and collected a yellow card for his indiscretion – but came out of the tangle needing treatment in first-half stoppage time.
After the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that during the 15-minute break: “The doctors looked at him and they were happy for him to continue, he was as well.”
Yet, within five minutes of the restart, Timber had crumbled in a heap without any contact from another opponent. “Straight away in the first action of the second half he made a movement and it was a bit funny,” Arteta reflected. “We took him out straight after and now we have to assess him and see what he has.”
Timber received treatment on his right knee after holding the back of his leg. The 22-year-old has an impeccable injury record; across his final two seasons for Ajax, Timber missed a combined four matches with nothing more severe than a knock. The longest Timber has ever been sidelined lasted less than a month after he contracted pancreatitis at the end of 2020.
The full scale of Timber’s injury will be revealed after further scans are made.
Timber made his Premier League debut for Arsenal on the left of a flexible backline which also included Thomas Partey when the Gunners didn’t have possession.
Naturally a right-footed centre-back, Timber was filling in for another of Arsenal’s injured defenders. Oleksandr Zinchenko sat out of the entirety of pre-season and the Community Shield victory over Manchester City with a calf problem that he sustained at the end of last season.
The former City full-back is nearing full fitness, with Arsenal’s outing against Crystal Palace next Monday tentatively pencilled in for his possible return.
Takehiro Tomiyasu endured an injury-riddled campaign last season but was Arteta’s first choice to replace Timber against Forest. Kieran Tierney offers a left-footed option but was conspicuous by his absence from the matchday squad on Saturday. Rumours of a move to Newcastle United have grown in recent weeks for the Scotland international – although, any sale may be delayed until the severity of Timber’s injury is revealed.
LISTEN TO 90MIN’s ARSENAL PODCAST: THE CHRONICLES OF A GOONER
On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou reviews Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest and discusses Jurrien Timber’s injury!
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