Arsenal get Jurrien Timber injury boost following knee surgery as £34m Dutch defender is already off crutches

The Netherlands international full-back was snapped up from Ajax during the summer transfer window for £34 million ($42m). He picked up an unfortunate injury when making his Premier League debut on the opening weekend against Nottingham Forest.

Timber suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage, forcing him to undergo surgery. He is set to be sidelined for several months, with Arsenal prepared to ease him back into their plans when the time is right, but he has already been spotted at the Gunners’ official team photo shoot sporting a smile and no obvious issues with his knee.

Arsenal were disappointed to lose Timber so early in the 2023-24 campaign, but Arteta believes long-term value will be found in a big-money deal. The Spanish coach has said: “We are all human beings and you know that one plus one isn’t always making two. In the end, it’s a bet. When buying a player, it’s a bet – and that bet can go wrong... because it’s a human. You have to bring them from different countries, cultures and styles of play. Then they have to live and adapt within a different system and environment. Sometimes it takes time. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. I feel extremely responsible, especially when we’re demanding to buy players for huge amounts. You have to make sure we’ve done the work to make it happen. But sometimes it doesn’t. Look at Jurrien. We’re extremely happy but, for a different reason, we don’t have him on the field. We paid a lot of money and he’s a player that’s going to be really important. But it’s not working at the moment because he can’t fulfil his job. Sometimes, it’s for that reason. But sometimes they’re not fitting in because they’re not playing well enough – and the coach makes so many mistakes that he doesn’t get the best from a player.”

Arsenal have taken 13 points from five Premier League matches this season, leaving them fourth in the table, and are readying themselves for a long-awaited return to Champions League competition on Wednesday when playing host to Dutch giants PSV.