Mikel Arteta has offered a glimmer of hope for Arsenal fans, revealing that Jurrien Timber has a "chance" to return in time for the Champions League final—a timely boost as the club grapples with a growing right-back crisis.
The Gunners' defensive depth is being tested to its limits. Ben White has been sidelined with a knee injury for the crucial final stretch of the season, while Timber has been out for two months with a groin problem. That leaves Arsenal thin on the ground at right-back for their remaining Premier League clashes against Burnley and Crystal Palace, as well as the highly anticipated European showdown against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30.
With limited options available, the responsibility could fall to Cristhian Mosquera or left-back Riccardo Calafiori to step in—a daunting task, especially when facing PSG's dynamic winger, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, in Budapest.
"There is a chance," Arteta said when asked about Timber's availability this season. "But how big that chance is, I cannot tell you. I'm being completely honest. He's going to try to do everything he can to convert that chance as high as possible in the shortest possible period. And that's the challenge ahead."
The manager offered a cautious update on Timber's progress: "He's progressed a little bit in the last few days. He's feeling better. We're going to try to get him available as quickly as possible. But he's obviously been out now for a while, unfortunately. He's such an important player for us—we all know that—and he's doing everything that he possibly can to help the team in any capacity."
With two defenders unavailable, Arteta acknowledged the need for adaptability. "We need to look at alternatives. The two players that we have there (at right-back) are not available at the moment. We need to look and do something else. The good thing is that we have experienced that all over the pitch this season."
Arsenal are just two wins away from capturing their first league title since 2004. A victory against Burnley on Monday night would put the pressure on Manchester City, who would then need to win away at Bournemouth to take the title race to the final day.
Interestingly, Arteta revealed he missed City's dominant 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening—a result that pulled Pep Guardiola's side within two points of the Gunners with only six points left to play for. Instead, the Arsenal boss was attending a dinner with the club's title sponsor, Emirates.
With the title race heating up and a Champions League final on the horizon, every detail matters. For now, Timber's potential return offers a ray of hope—but the clock is ticking, and Arsenal's squad depth will be tested like never before.