Timber’s Injury as Affected Arsenal This Season – Arteta

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has come out to admit that injuries to Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber have been a huge blow this season. He recently revealed that both injuries have changed the course of the Gunners’ season, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, everyone could see from day one what Timber was going to add to the Arsenal team, so the lack of his versatility has definitely played a role in the team’s form.

Arteta added that Timber is recovering well at the moment, but he is still far away from returning.

His words, “It was a huge blow. Everyone could see from day one what he was going to bring to the team. The versatility, the quality, the leadership. And an ability that we did not have in the backline. It was a huge blow, as well, losing Thomas. We had other plans as well with him, to become very versatile and unpredictable in our way of playing. We have not had them and that is difficult. We have them in the building, which is a joy. But we have not had them on the field as much as we wanted.”

“It will depend on the players that we have available. We have to play to the strengths of the players, that is the first thing. I don’t want players to do things that they don’t feel comfortable doing. That is the first principle that we have to apply. Play everybody to their strengths – we have some really good players, and we will win matches for sure.”

“Unfortunately, that’s a very long-term injury. He (Timber) is doing really well but he is still far from being fit to train with the team. We don’t expect him back anytime soon.”