Jurrien Timber Arsenal return timeline updated after recovery reaches new level and training

Jurrien Timber's earliest return to action is expected to be in March despite recent images of him returning to ball work on the grass as Arsenal take a break from the harsh British weather with a training camp in Dubai. The club uploaded a glimpse of what the Netherlands international has been partaking in with the coaches to the delight of supporters.

Having suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury in August which required surgery, football.londonwere told that it would be an estimated seven to nine months before we saw Timber back in action. This would place his return at the very earliest in March.

Mikel Arteta has explained that Timber has been progressing very well. However, he did remind supporters that he is still some way from returning to the group and then getting back to competitive action.

«Unfortunately, that’s a very long-term injury,» he said when asked ahead of the FA Cup clash with Liverpool. «He is doing really well but he is still far from being fit to train with the team, or something to compete with the team so we don’t expect him back anytime soon.

»It’s what we have; the situation that we have now as well with Tomi having to leave and we have to cope with that."

Arsenal have been frustrated in defence due to both injury and unavailability. Takehiro Tomiyasu had been out for several weeks to return for the away trip to Fulham before leaving to play for Japan in the Asia Cup.

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Oleksandr Zinchenko has been out of action for several weeks with a small muscle problem. Meanwhile, Ben White's form has dipped as he