Mikel Arteta Outlines Arsenal Transfer ‘Reaction’ To Jurrien Timber Injury

Mikel Arteta Outlines Arsenal Transfer ‘Reaction’ To Jurrien Timber Injury

With Jurrien Timber sustaining a devastating knee injury, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that Arsenal could dip into the transfer market.

Timber will have surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest by Arsenal. The Dutch defender joined the Premier League for £38.5m from Ajax in July.

He was recruited in part for his versatility across the back line, therefore losing him would be devastating to Arteta’s chances.

What Arteta Said

With Oleksandr Zinchenko recovering from an injury, Timber started at left-back against Forest, and Arteta is disappointed to have lost him so early in his Arsenal career.

“It is a huge blow. Especially for him after just joining the club. We recruited him with clear intentions and what he was bringing to the team was evident,” Arteta said.

“I’m more thinking about the resources in the team to do what we want to do. But it’s true he was giving us a lot on both sides.”

Arsenal have spent over £200m in the transfer window to bring in Timber, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and David Raya.

However, Arteta admitted they may be forced to change their plans to sign another defender and plug the gap left by Timber’s injury.

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“Well, we didn’t plan obviously with this injury,” he said. “We have to assess now what the options are, what the best way is to get the best out of the players we have. As I said, my biggest challenge now is to get the best out of the players we have.

“I cannot control anything that is not here. And we are always open and we have to be open and react if something happens, not only with an injury but with the market as well – and that’s what we are doing.”

Arsenal sporting director Edu has until September 1 to bring in any new recruits, but in the meantime Arteta is focused on their trip to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace on Monday.

With Timber injured, he will face a decision at left-back between Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.

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