Arsenal defender drops hint over Champions League final availability

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Jurrien Timber has provided an encouraging update on his injury recovery after being spotted celebrating Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph without any visible discomfort.

The Dutch defender, who has been sidelined for eight weeks with a groin injury suffered during Arsenal’s victory over Everton in March, was actively involved in Tuesday night’s title celebrations at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

Timber joined his teammates in watching Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth, which confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years. The 24-year-old was seen jumping up and down during the celebrations and later arrived at the Emirates Stadium in the early hours of Wednesday morning alongside Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Declan Rice.

Recovery timeline remains uncertain

Despite his enthusiastic participation in the title celebrations, Timber’s availability for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 remains in doubt. The defender has missed Arsenal’s last 13 games across all competitions due to what Mikel Arteta described as a “complex issue.”

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman recently provided a cautious assessment of Timber’s condition. According to the Mirror, Koeman said: “Jurrien has been dealing with this for quite some time. It has been on and off. He is now training up again to see if he can make the Champions League final and if he is available for the World Cup. It does not look rosy at the moment.”

The Dutch boss faces his own deadline pressure, with the World Cup squad announcement scheduled for May 27 – just three days before Arsenal’s European showpiece.

Arteta remains hopeful

Arteta has previously expressed optimism about Timber’s recovery, highlighting the defender’s importance to the squad. Speaking after Arsenal’s win over West Ham, the manager said: “He’s progressed a little bit in the last few days. He’s feeling better. We’re going to try to get him fit and available as quick as possible.”

The fact that Timber showed no signs of discomfort during the extended celebrations will boost hopes that he could be available for selection against PSG. His presence would provide Arsenal with a significant defensive boost for what promises to be their biggest match in years.

Arsenal will continue to monitor Timber’s progress over the coming days as they prepare for the Champions League final at the end of the month.