Mikel Arteta has revealed that whilst Mikel Merino is returning to full training, Jurrien Timber is still a little further behind in his recovery.
There was good news on the injury front on Thursday, as Mikel Merino was spotted back training with the main group at Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that whilst it was only a light session for the players on Thursday, he’s expecting Merino to join in for a full training session on Friday.
But Jurrien Timber also remains absent, and Arteta confirmed that the right-back is still at least a few days away from the same milestone.
“Mikel [Merino] is going to start to train with the group tomorrow, today he’s done a little bit,” Arteta confirmed. “It was just a very light session, obviously.
“Jurrien [Timber], let’s hope that he can do the same in the next few days, but he’s still a little bit further behind than Mikel at the moment.”
Arsenal are obviously running out of time to reintegrate Timber ahead of the Champions League final, which is now just nine days away.
The fact Timber hasn’t yet returned to training almost certainly means he’ll miss Sunday’s game against Crystal Palace, so even if he’s fit in time for PSG, he won’t have an opportunity to build up his match sharpness first.
Arsenal have been unlucky with their recent injuries, as the only two players currently not in training are both right-backs. In any other position, the team would have cover, but Ben White’s absence means Arteta has had to settle for a centre-back playing on the right.
Timber should still be in with a shot of making the squad for the final, if he can get himself fit over the next week. But he’ll probably have a bench role at most, with Cristhian Mosquera the more likely starter in Timber’s position.
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