Jurrien Timber has returned to Arsenal training ahead of their Premier League opener against Wolves.
Timber signed Arsenal from Ajax for £38 million last summer, but missed almost the entire 2023/24 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained on the first day of the season.
The 23-year-old returned on the last day of the season against Everton and was part of Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States.
However, a foot ailment forced the defender to miss the final two summer friendly against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon.
Arsenal have previously indicated Timber’s recent issue was down to an increased workload and not linked to last season’s injury.
Timber has now been pictured back among his teammates in first-team training ahead of the opening game of the season at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
‘It’s fine, he’s been doing some individual work, that’s clear now,’ Arteta said after Sunday’s win over Lyon.
‘We expect him to be ready to train with the group in the next week, because he has no reaction. So quite positive.’
Arsenal’s only other injury concern is Takehiro Tomiyasu. The versatile defender missed the club’s entire pre-season due to a knee injury and is not in contention to make the squad this weekend.
Arteta believes it will be a number of weeks before the Japan international is back in training.
‘It will take weeks on that one, unfortunately,’ Arteta said. ‘He is going to have to be patient.’
Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title on the final day of the season last term, with Manchester City holding a two-point lead at the summit to lift the trophy again.
The Gunners have made just one signing this summer in the form of Riccardo Calafiori, who joined the club from Bologna in a £42million deal.
Among the departures were Emile Smith Rowe, who joined Fulham in a deal worth an initial £27m.