Mikel Arteta told Arsenal star's Euro 2024 hopes will now be decided by him
Holland coach Ronald Koeman has told Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta that he can save Jurrien Timber's Euro dream.
But that means giving the Dutch defender a role in the Gunners' double bid.
Timber is back in Arteta's plans after being sidelined by the knee ligament injury he sustained on his Premier League debut in August. Koeman wants the 22-year-old for his squad for Germany - but insists that Timber now needs minutes on the pitch to prove his fitness.
Koeman said: "He (Timber) must have played in a sequence of matches before the Euros. But no, I am not going to say how many games."
Koeman has been hit by a defensive crisis ahead of the summer tournament. He has lost Newcastle ’s Sven Botman with cruciate damage, Nathan Ake is out of Manchester City's plans for a month with hamstring trouble, and Inter Milan's Stefan de Vrij has also had fitness issues.
But Koeman has made it clear that Timber must play for Arsenal to make the cut as Arteta goes for glory in the Premier League and Champions League.
Timber rejected the chance to leave Ajax for Manchester United in 2022 when Louis van Gaal warned him it would risk his chances of going to the World Cup in Qatar. He moved to the Emirates for £34million in the summer but was injured against Nottingham Forest.
Timber's long absence this season has saved Arsenal a £5million bonus that would have been triggered if he had featured in more games.
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