Jurrien Timber injury update as Mikel Arteta addresses Arsenal right-back crisis | Football

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are working on having Jurrien Timber available before the end of the season as he continues his recovery from a groin problem.

Timber has been a big part of Arsenal’s success this season, playing 43 games in all competitions, but has been out of action for two months.

His last outing was in the 2-0 win over Everton at the Emirates on March 14, coming off in the first half of the contest.

The Gunners have two Premier League games to play, against Burnley on Monday night and then at Crystal Palace on May 24.

Then comes the Champions League final in Budapest against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30, which appears to be the target for a Timber return.

Arteta told a press conference on Thursday morning of Timber: ‘He has progressed a little bit in the last few days. We will try to get him back and available as quick as possible. He’s doing everything he possibly can to help the team in any capacity.’

On his chances of returning before the end of the season, he said: ‘There is a chance, but how big that chance is I cannot tell you.’

Arteta is dealing with a problem at right-back as Ben White has already been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

‘We need to look at alternatives, the two players that we have are not available at the moment so we need to look and do something else,’ said Arteta.

‘The good thing is we have experienced that all over the pitch this season because when we had issues they have normally been in the same positions as well and we have still managed to find the same level of performance and consistency.’

He added: ‘There are different options, in relation to the opponent and the things we want to do. We have to be open to not just one, but to two or three options.’

The Gunners boss also says he is not sure if Riccardo Calafiori will be fit to face Burnley on Monday night.

‘We don’t yet know if he will be available, we still have several days ahead, and we hope the injury is not serious,’ said the Spaniard.

The club has already made it clear that White will be out for some time after picking up a serious knee problem against West Ham on Sunday.

‘Further to Sunday’s match at West Ham United, subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed that Ben White has sustained a significant medial knee ligament injury, which will rule him out for the remainder of this season,’ a statement on Arsenal’s official website read.

‘Our medical team are now managing Ben’s recovery and rehabilitation programme, with everyone fully focused on supporting the aim of Ben being ready for the start of our pre-season preparations.’

Arteta added on Thursday: ‘It looks like a long-term injury. At the moment the focus is when can we have him back, that is not going to happen in many many weeks.’

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