Jurrien Timber undergoes minor surgery

Jurrien Timber had minor surgery on his groin injury this summer, according to a report, but he is hoping to play some part in pre-season.

Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice of Arsenal and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrate with the Premier League trophy — Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

Matt Verri reports for The Standard that Jurrien Timber had minor surgery on a groin issue this summer. Verri writes that the defender is still completing his rehabilitation, but it is hoped that he’ll play some part in pre-season.

Timber has travelled with the Arsenal squad to Spain for their training camp in Girona, but he hasn’t been taking part in group sessions. Instead, he’s been doing individual work in the gym.

Unsurprisingly, the right-back also wasn’t involved for Arsenal in their behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons at the weekend.

Jurrien Timber of Arsenal receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton — Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Timber was initially called up for the summer World Cup by the Netherlands, but he ended up withdrawing from the tournament at the last minute.

A statement from the national team said: “The 24-year-old defender has not recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to take part in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner.”

Perhaps part of the motivation for that withdrawal was that the Arsenal player would be able to have this surgery before the 2026/27 campaign. The hope is obviously that the operation will now allow him to play regularly without so many setbacks.

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts as Jurrien Timber of Arsenal is substituted during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on March 14, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) — Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Timber played 44 times for Arsenal in 2025/26, but almost all of those appearances were before mid-March. The defender missed the entire Premier League run-in, the League Cup final, the FA Cup quarter-final elimination, and five Champions League knockout games.

Hopefully, this surgery will prove a success and Timber will be back out on the pitch playing football before the new Premier League season gets underway next month.

Jurrien Timber of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on March 01, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

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