Mikel Arteta set to be handed defensive boost as Jurrien Timber nears injury return… but won’t be fit to play vs Wolves – as £40m star set to complete ‘last step’ of ACL recovery

Mikel Arteta has issued a positive update over the fitness defender Jurrien Timber, revealing the Arsenal star is set to complete the ‘final steps’ of his return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the coming weeks.

But the Arsenal manager admitted that the Dutch centre back would not be available for their visit to play Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, as the Gunners look to bounce back from a torrid week that saw them crash out of the Champions League and drop points in the title race. 

The 22-year-old, who joined Arsenal last summer in a £40million deal, has made just two appearances for the Gunners this season after he sustained the ACL injury on the opening day of the campaign during their victory against Nottingham Forest.  

Arsenal subsequently stated that he would undergo surgery on the issue, with the centre-back, returning to training in February. 

While Arteta claimed he was not ready to return to first-team action just yet, he delivered a positive assessment of his recovery, claiming that the defender had been ‘looking good in training’. 

The Arsenal boss said that Timber would play a match with the U21 team before his return

Timber returned to training in February and Arteta has been impressed by his performances   

‘It is too soon,’ the Spaniard said during his press conference on Friday. 

‘He’s going to play a game with the under-21s and after that, we will see better where he is, how he felt. 

‘He looks really good in training but it’s that last step now. We need to have the certainty that he’s ready to go.’

It comes as the Gunners look to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa last Sunday and their 1-0 (3-2 aggregate) loss to Bayern Munich in midweek. 

The defeat to Unai Emery’s side saw Arsenal give way to Manchester City at the top of the Premier League standings, with the north London outfit now facing a nervous run-in as they look to claim their first league title in almost 20 years. 

The Gunners boss also revealed that the rest of his squad were ‘all good’ after concerns were raised among some fans over the fitness of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, who appeared to be limping as he walked from the field following their defeat by Villa. 

Arsenal are currently two points adrift of Man City but can return to the top of the Premier League standings with a victory on Saturday, while Pep Guardiola’s side take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final. 

The defender suffered the injury during the opening game of the season vs Nottingham Forest

Timber has played twice for Arsenal, helping the side win the Community Shield in August

Arteta called on his players to show their character and claim victory vs Wolves on Saturday

Despite their recent blip, Arteta urged his side not to dwell on their woes of the last seven days, and instead, show their character to secure victory against Wolves on Saturday evening. 

‘It’s what it is. We have to accept it,’ he said on their defeat by Bayern Munich in midweek.

‘Especially the Bayern one at home in the beginning it could’ve been very different. Even away I think we were the better team, we should’ve won the game, we didn’t and in the second half. We paid the price for that with the chances that we gave them basically and we have to move from there. 

‘We don’t have to talk too much, it’s about showing against Wolves what we are made of to turn this situation around and it can look really positive.’