Jurrien Timber looks set to miss Arsenal’s showdown with Liverpool after he was left out of the provisional Netherlands squad for their Nations League games in November.
Timber has been out for almost a month due to a muscle injury and Mikel Arteta said on Friday that he was “very uncertain” whether he would be fit to face Liverpool.
The defender has returned to training but his hopes of lining up at Emirates Stadium on Sunday appear slim after the Dutch did not name him in their provisional squad for fixtures next month against Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dutch manager Ronald Koeman has decided not to select Timber, suggesting he is still some way away from a return to fitness.
Speaking on Friday, Arteta admitted Arsenal had hoped Timber would be “further along” in his recovery.
“He’s been out for a while,” said Arteta. “We expected him to be further along than he is at the moment. We will have to see [about Liverpool].”
With Timber and Riccardo Calafiori both expected to miss out against Liverpool, Arteta is facing a headache at left-back and a major defensive reshuffle.
William Saliba is suspended after his red card in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Our provisional squad for November! 🗒️🦁
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) October 25, 2024
16/11 #NEDHUN 🇳🇱🇭🇺
19/11 #BIHNED 🇧🇦🇳🇱#NothingLikeOranje #NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/2JRtc8oJwL
Ben White may be forced to play at centre-back alongside Gabriel, with Thomas Partey dropping into right-back.
At left-back, Arteta can choose between Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Oleksandr Zinchenko to line up against Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.
Injury-hit Arsenal are sweating on fitness on Bukayo Saka ahead of the visit of Liverpool, while captain Martin Odegaard remains sidelined.
