Jurrien Timber has returned to first-team training ahead of Arsenal's Champions League final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain. The Netherlands international has not played since the victory over Everton in March, missing 14 games with a troublesome groin injury. His absence has been greatly felt at right-back, with Ben White's season-ending knee injury handing Mikel Arteta another huge selection problem.
Timber returned to individual training earlier this week and joined up with his teammates on Wednesday. The former Ajax star came through that session unscathed and could now be in contention to mark his return against the European champions in Budapest on Saturday. Timber was this week included in the Netherlands squad for the World Cup after missing the last two months of action.
On Wednesday evening, Dutch boss Ronald Koeman revealed the Arsenal defender was poised to train with his club teammates. 'The situation with him is that he was due to train with the squad today, to see how things look ahead of the weekend,' Koeman said. 'They have the Champions League final on Saturday. We'll have to wait and see if he'll make it.'
It remains to be seen whether Timber is deemed fit enough to start against PSG, where he will be directly up against one of the best wingers in world football, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Declan Rice has been used at right-back twice this season, with Martin Zubimendi taking up the unfamiliar role on Sunday against Crystal Palace in a much-changed starting XI. Cristhian Mosquera has deputised in the absence of Timber and White, filling the void impressively after being moved out from centre-half.
Emmanuel Eboue, who started at right-back the last time Arsenal were in a Champions League final 20 years ago, has urged Arteta to keep faith in the former Villarreal star, not convinced Timber will be ready to start after such an extended layoff. 'Timber will want to play,' Eboue told Metro. 'As a player, your dream is to play the Champions League final. I think for him, he will want 100 per cent want to start. But he has not played for a long time. He has to wait a little bit then we can see. The PSG team, they are so strong and so fast so I think it is better for Arteta to leave him on the bench.'
Arsenal's preparation for the final continues as they aim to lift the trophy for the first time in their history. The Gunners have endured a long season, but with Timber potentially available, Arteta may have a key option to counter PSG's attacking threat. The match in Budapest promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of Europe's top sides.
