Amidst the happiness of Arsenal‘s 4-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday night, concern lingers over the fitness of defender Jurrien Timber.

The Dutch international, who missed most of last season due to a knee injury, was absent from the squad, raising concerns among the Arsenal faithful.

Timber’s absence last week against Liverpool was initially attributed to rest and recuperation following his participation in two prior pre-season friendlies. However, his continued absence from training and the matchday squad against Leverkusen sparked fears of a potential setback.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, addressed the issue post-match, revealing that Timber has been experiencing “a little discomfort in his foot the last few days.” Arteta emphasised the club’s cautious approach, stating, “After the amount of time he has been out, we did not want to take any risks with him.”

While the injury appears to be minor, it serves as a reminder of Timber’s lengthy recovery from his previous knee injury. The club’s decision to prioritise his long-term fitness over short-term gains is understandable, but it adds a note of caution to an otherwise positive pre-season campaign.

The comprehensive victory over Leverkusen, featuring goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz, showed Arsenal’s firepower and provided valuable minutes for key players returning from extended breaks.

Further updates on Timber’s condition and expected return date are awaited.

Where was Riccardo Calafiori?

New signing, Riccardo Calafiori, was also absent from the squad for the game. About that, Arteta explained, “With regards to Riccardo, so much has happened to him in one week.

“He has come into a new environment, a completely different methodology, different training and we are managing him.

“We want to do it slowly, to get him in the best possible way. Hopefully on Sunday he will be available to play some minutes.”