Arsenal hope to have Jurrien Timber available for their trip to face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Dutchman made his first appearance of the season when he came on at half-time in the 2-0 win against Sunderland last weekend.
Timber was then surprisingly left out of the squad for the Carabao Cup third-round clash with Ipswich on Tuesday, but Mikel Arteta insisted that was not due to an injury setback.
"Everything is fine," said the Arsenal boss. “He has played much more than we wanted.
“The other day he had 53 minutes after five months out. We need to look after him.”
Timber's fitness has taken on particular significance after Ben White picked up a groin issue at the Stadium of Light.
With Cristhian Mosquera yet to return from the muscle injury he suffered against Aston Villa last month, Arsenal are light on options at right-back after Martin Zubimendi was deployed there for the 4-2 win over Ipswich.
Ezri Konsa is able to cover right-back, but in Mosquera’s absence has been partnering Gabriel in central defence with William Saliba a long-term absentee due to a back injury.
Bruno Guimaraes could come in for Arsenal to make his first Premier League start in midfield against Brighton after he starred off the bench at Sunderland, the ex-Newcastle captain scoring a fantastic goal amid a hostile reception from the home fans.
Having been rested in the Carabao Cup, the likes of David Raya, Declan Rice and Riccardo Calafiori are all set to return to the Arsenal starting lineup at the Amex Stadium.
In attack, there are not expected to be any surprises. Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis are Arteta’s first-choice wingers, though Noni Madueke pushed his starting case with a bright performance against Ipswich.
In-form captain Martin Odegaard will start at No10 and Kai Havertz should lead the attack once again, with Viktor Gyokeres not doing enough in the minutes he has been given so far this season.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Guimaraes; Saka, Odegaard, Tzolis; Havertz
Injured: Saliba
Doubts: Timber, White, Mosquera
Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday September 19, 2026
Venue: Amex Stadium, Brighton
