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Arsenal's forgotten man could get them over the line in Man City and Liverpool title fight
Arsenal could be handed a significant boost in the title run-in.
Arsenal’s title hopes could be boosted by their forgotten summer signing, Jurrien Timber. The versatile defender has made just two appearances since joining the club from Ajax over the summer due to injuries, but he could return in time to make his mark in the latter stages of the season.
The Gunners head into this weekend at the top of the Premier League and Mikel Arteta will be hoping that his side can bounce back to winning ways following their 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek.
The Spaniard will be leaning on the help of his full squad if they are to lift the Premier League title at the end of the season, having self-destructed when in pole position to land the spoils last season due to injury problems.
Rotation will therefore be paramount, and Arsenal’s options across the backline look set to be bolstered over the coming weeks thanks to the return of Timber. The Netherlands international sustained an ACL injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest and has not featured for his new side since.
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But recent comments from Arteta suggest that Timber could feature for the Gunners before the season concludes, explaining: “He has still got a few steps to make. He needs to play a game at least with the U23s. He is going to have an in-house game soon as well. He has done everything in training, now it's getting that match fitness and having people around and starting to compete in matches, which is different to training." (don't end quotes here if you go into them in next par)
“For everything we see in training and the time that he was fit, I think he is going to have a big, big impact on the team. We have got one more day to prepare for the match and we will see if everyone is available. We have some [doubts] but with another day hopefully everybody is going to be OK."
Timber is a versatile option for Arteta to work with as he can play in any role across the backline, and his availability will ensure that the likes of William Saliba and Ben White are given the opportunity to rest ahead of important matches during the business end of the season.
Arsenal also do not have a first-choice left-back at present, with Oleksandr Zinchenko Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu all struggling to tie down the position, and Timber could pounce to solidify the Gunners’ defence even further.