The versatile defender signed for the Gunners last summer in a £38million deal from Ajax. Timber moved to the Emirates Stadium with the aim of becoming a key part of Mikel Arteta's defence.
However, he sustained an ACL injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest back in August. The 22-year-old underwent surgery days after the injury.
Since then, the defender has gradually been building up his rehabilitation to eventually return to the pitch. And now, according to the Daily Mail, there is increasing confidence at London Colney that Timber could have a role to play this season.
Timber is thought to be making good progress on his recovery from the injury and recently travelled to Dubai with the rest of his team-mates for a winter break training camp. The report claims that the Gunners hope to have him return to the pitch in the final two months of the season.
However, caution has been issued, with the club still yet to put an official return date on the player, who has now been on the sidelines for more than five months.
Arteta, speaking on January 5, was asked about the impact that Timber's injury has had on his squad this season. and said: "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."
When asked if Timber's availability would have led to a change in style of player for Arsenal, Arteta replied: “Yep. [We saw] a little part of it. He was only available for pre-season and the first game of the season.”
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