Arsenal are facing a major crisis at right-back as they look to see out what could be an extraordinary season in the Premier League and Champions League.
With two league games to go, the Gunners are in control of their own destiny and could be crowned league champions as early as Tuesday if Manchester City slip-up against Bournemouth.
Focus will then shift to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest but Mikel Arteta faces being without the two right-backs who have served him so well for that first Champions League final in 22 years.
Jurrien Timber has not played since the 2-0 victory over Everton in mid-March, missing his side’s last 12 games with a groin injury. It was initially hoped the Dutchman’s issue was a minor one but it has derailed his season with Arteta last week unsure whether he will play again this term.
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The Arsenal boss struck a slightly more optimistic note on Thursday. ‘He’s progressed a little bit in the last few days. We’re going to try to get him fit and available as quickly as possible, but let’s see,’ Arteta said.
‘He’s been out for a while, unfortunately. He’s such an important player for us. We all know that and he’s doing everything he can to help the team in any capacity. We know his leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him.’
Timber is still to return to training with the final now just 15 days away. The situation has been exacerbated by the loss of Ben White, whose season is over after suffering a ‘significant’ medial knee ligament injury against West Ham United.
In the event Timber is passed fit, match sharpness will be a concern, particularly up against the wizardry of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who he would likely come up directly against.
Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs which specialises in injury welfare, believes the there will have been plenty of work done privately behind the scenes at London Colney to get Timber ready.
While getting Timber back and at the level required on such a stage will be difficult, he suggests there is a chance he features, particularly with White’s absence now complicating matters further.
‘If the player is not on the field and training at this point after two months out, think of the match sharpness they have lost,’ Smith told Metro.
‘Not to say it is impossible, it is not like he has been sat at home, I am sure they are doing a lot of work with him. Arsenal are short of numbers with Ben White out so it could maybe change their posture towards that and how they think about utilising Timber in these final weeks.
‘But it certainly makes it more difficult. The importance of the games coming up too, everything matters.’
White’s season is over meanwhile and while there is not an exact timeline on how long he will be sidelined for, Arteta admitted this week it would be ‘many, many weeks’ before he is available again with their focus on having him available for next season.