{"id":5703,"date":"2024-04-30T10:33:45","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T10:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=5703"},"modified":"2024-04-30T10:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T10:33:45","slug":"jurrien-timber-set-to-make-long-awaited-arsenal-return-vs-bournemouth-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=5703","title":{"rendered":"Jurrien Timber set to make long-awaited Arsenal return vs Bournemouth | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Arsenal\n<\/div>

The defender has not played since the first game of the season (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jurrien Timber is in line to make his long-awaited return to the Arsenal squad when the Gunners take on Bournemouth in the Premier League this Saturday.<\/p>\n

The 22-year-old has not played since the opening match of the season when he tore his ACL against Nottingham Forest.<\/p>\n

He has been stepping up his recovery in recent weeks, though, and has made two appearances for the Under-21 side \u2013 notably scoring a brilliant goal against Blackburn Rovers.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta revealed he was \u2018very close\u2019 to making the squad ahead of the north London derby, though in the end Timber was forced to watch from the stands.<\/p>\n

But now The Evening Standard are reporting that Timber\u2019s wait to make his Premier League return may finally be over, with the former Ajax man confident of being involved this weekend.<\/p>\n

He played 45 minutes against Blackburn\u2019s Under-21s last week and then 70 minutes against Liverpool\u2019s development team on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Timber has also come through team training \u2013 which is played at a very high intensity \u2013 unscathed and Arsenal\u2019s medical team are ready to declare him fit to face Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

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\"Arsenal\n<\/div>

Timber in action for Arsenal\u2019s Under-21 team (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although Arsenal have the most formidable defence in the division, Timber\u2019s return will be a huge boost with Arteta having frequently spoken of the offensive qualities the Dutchman can bring to the side.<\/p>\n

\u2018Jurrien is a main one because he has a quality that nobody else has in the backline to actually effect, especially in the attacking phases, things that we do, in both positions or three positions,\u2019 explained Arteta.<\/p>\n

The player himself, meanwhile, is keen to play a role in Arsenal\u2019s run-in after missing so much of the season through injury.<\/p>\n