EPL: Timber leaves Arsenal training camp for injury recovery

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Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has temporarily returned to London from the club’s pre-season training camp in Spain as part of his ongoing recovery from a groin injury.

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The Netherlands international traveled back to England for a scheduled stage of his rehabilitation, with club sources insisting the move is not the result of a setback in his recovery.

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As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, Timber is expected to return to Spain to rejoin Mikel Arteta’s squad once he completes the planned work.

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The 24-year-old has been managing a groin issue that ruled him out of recent action after he recovered from an ankle injury sustained toward the end of last season.

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Although he returned in time to feature in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the groin problem later forced him to miss international duty with the Netherlands.

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Timber enjoyed an impressive campaign last season, making 30 Premier League appearances as Arsenal secured the league title and establishing himself as the club’s first-choice right-back.

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The defender has already overcome a major injury setback since joining Arsenal from Ajax in July 2023 for an initial fee of £34 million, having missed most of his debut season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

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Arsenal will be hoping Timber is back to full fitness ahead of the new campaign, with the Gunners set to face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16 before opening their Premier League title defense against promoted Coventry City on August 21.

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