When will Jurrien Timber return for Arsenal? Mikel Arteta provides latest on £34m summer signing as defender recovers from ACL injury

Jurrien Timber is closing in on a return to fitness at Arsenal, but the defender still has “a few steps to make” before gracing a competitive fixture.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Full-back signed from Ajax in 2023
• Injured on opening weekend of season
• Hoping to figure again in title race

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners splashed out £34 million ($42m) when luring the highly-rated Netherlands international away from Ajax in the summer of 2023. The 22-year-old was expected to nail down a regular role for the Premier League giants, but suffered an unfortunate ACL injury on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 season.

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• WHAT ARTETA SAID ABOUT TIMBER

  Timber has taken in a long road to recovery since then, with Mikel Arteta saying when asked to deliver an update on the buccaneering full-back and when he may be seen again: “Still he’s got a few steps to make. He needs to play at least a game with the 23s. We’re going to have an in house game too. He’s done everything in training now it’s about getting him match fit.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal will be back in action on Sunday when playing host to Aston Villa. There are suggestions that Gabriel Magalhaes is nursing a knock ahead of that game, with Arteta saying when asked about the Brazilian’s absence from training: “We've got one more day to prepare the match and we'll see if everyone is available.”

• WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arsenal head into a meeting with top-four hopefuls Villa sat top of the Premier League table, but with only goal difference keeping them above Liverpool – while defending champions Manchester City are just one point off the pace with seven games left to take in.