Exclusive: Arsenal set Timber injury return plan for Champions League final

7 May 2026 18:54 BST | 4 min read

Steve Kay | Editor

Arsenal are ‘wrapping Jurrien Timber in cotton wool’ to ensure the defender is available for the Champions League final later this month, FootballTransfers has been told.

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Timber has been sidelined for nearly two months after going off injured against Everton on March 14, with the 24-year-old missing the last 11 games despite only initially being considered to have a minor issue.

Current ETV

Jurriën Timber

D (R)

Arsenal

Jurriën Timber

D (R)

Arsenal

ETV Range

€64.6M - €79M

Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid this week to reach the Champions League final, which will be played on May 30, and the Gunners are desperate to have Timber available and fully fit for the game against Paris Saint-Germain.

However, a source told FootballTransfers that Arsenal have ‘no intention’ of rushing Timber back for the remaining three matches of the Premier League season, with the focus on the Champions League final instead.

In addition, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s coaching staff are said to have ‘concerns’ over PSG’s wide forwards, such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and are working tirelessly to ensure their first choice right-back in Timber is 100% fit for the final.

Ben White has deputised in the meantime and, while Arsenal have been satisfied with the England international's performances, the aim is for Timber to return against PSG in order to give the Gunners the best chance of winning a first-ever Champions League title.

Arteta unsure over Timber timeline as Arsenal target Champions League final return

Timber has been a crucial player for Arsenal since his arrival in 2022 and the Netherlands international has had an impressive season prior to his injury in March.

© IMAGO - Jurrien Timber has missed nearly two months of football for Arsenal.

The issue was first thought to be a minor hamstring strain but a groin problem was quickly discovered and Arsenal have been treating the injury with care to avoid rushing Timber back prematurely.

Although Timber has been seen celebrating with teammates during his absence, Arteta admitted at the end of April that he was unsure of when the defender would return to action.

“We don’t know yet,” Arteta said in his last update over Timber. “He is doing some stuff on the pitch at the moment. But we need to get the gears up and be able to do more things before he can compete with us.”

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