Jurrien Timber may miss the Wednesday friendly against Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen. Gooners started to worry as the defender missed training. Although he did not participate in last week’s friendly against Liverpool, at the time sources said he was only resting. Given his performance in the two past pre-season games, it looked reasonable.
But his recent absence from training has caused injuries worries. Rumours point to Timber maybe missing the Leverkusen game as he wasn’t on the squad bus. Gary Jacob verified Timber is suffering a load-bearing injury. Unverified rumors also abound about Riccardo Calafiori possibly missing the game. Mikel Arteta has little defensive alternatives as the season opener is barely over a week away.
This Arsenal Player Will Not Play Against Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal’s penultimate pre-season friendly against Lyon this weekend could be their last opportunity to get Timber and Calafiori fit for the opening Premier League game against Wolves. Positively, William Saliba has also returned. Should he participate in certain friendlies, the right-centre-back position should be covered.
Ben White has been involved in all pre-season activities; Gabriel Magalhaes already played against Liverpool. Still a worry, however, is the left-back post. Along with Calafiori’s uncertain situation, injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, and Timber restrict Arteta’s options. Still, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior are available and provide Arteta some choices. Still, the scenario isn’t perfect. In these last pre-season sessions, Arteta will have to carefully allocate his defensive resources.
The Gooners will pray for a quick recovery for Calafiori and Timber. It will be very important for Arteta to be able to meet these hurdles. Arsenal has to make sure their defense is ready to meet Wolves as the season gets underway.
If these injuries continue, Arteta need to think about adding even another defender. Dependent on a few fit players might backfire as the season goes on. Right now, a reinforcement might avoid a lot of problems down road.
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Before the season starts 2024–25 Arsenal wants to improve its offensive. Riccardo Calafiori signed for defense and Mikel Merino to strengthen the midfield already during the transfer window. Still, the fresh weapon Arsenal added to their onslaught is still unknown. The decision-makers among the Gunners are playing cards near the chest. Fans think this indicates a major change in the attack. Recent speculations connect Arsenal to Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. There were rumors over the weekend regarding Arsenal questioning Napoli’s attitude on Osimhen.
After failing their discussions with Napoli over Osimhen, Chelsea signed Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid instead. Given Napoli’s apparent openness to allowing Osimhen to go, rumors of his possible loan or permanent joining with Arsenal have proliferated. Should Osimhen sign, he may be the striker Arsenal has been subtly seeking.
