By David AFOLABI
Mikel Arteta has declared Jurrien Timber fit and ready to start Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in a major boost for Arsenal.
The versatile Dutch defender has not played for the Gunners since going off in the first half of the 2-0 Premier League win over Everton on March 14, battling ankle and groin issues.
Timber’s recovery has been slower than expected, and he has missed the last 14 games across all competitions, sitting out the finale to the domestic season as Arsenal clinched the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
He also appeared to be a key doubt for Saturday’s Champions League final in Budapest, though he returned to training earlier this week and was named in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad by Ronald Koeman despite his lack of recent football.
Timber’s return is very good news for Arsenal, who have also been without second-choice right-back Ben White after a season-ending knee injury suffered in the win over West Ham earlier this month that ruled him out of the World Cup with England.
Arteta initially switched influential midfielder Declan Rice to cover right-back after White limped off in the first half of a critical and controversial late win at the London Stadium, though quickly changed tack and introduced defender Cristhian Mosquera at the interval.
Mosquera continued at right-back for the 1-0 victory over Burnley before moving to central defence on the final day of the Premier League season at Crystal Palace as Arteta rang the changes ahead of the Champions League final, with midfielder Martin Zubimendi filling in on the right in a 2-1 win.
Mosquera would have been the most likely man to start at right-back against PSG if Timber was not fit, but now looks set to move to the bench to allow for the latter’s long-awaited return.
