Ahead of Arsenal’s second game of the season against Crystal Palace, the club’s gaffer Mikel Arteta held his pre-match press conference in London yesterday morning, where he spoke about the injury to Jurrien Timber, and how it wholly affects his team.
Recall that Timber who recently just joined Arsenal earlier on in the summer transfer window picked up a serious injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, in his first competitive game for the side, and will be sidelined for weeks, after the medical update from the club confirmed he’s going to undergo surgery.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Arteta said: “It’s a huge blow, especially for him having just joined the club to have the injury that he has is a huge disappointment for him. Obviously, for the team, it’s a big blow because we recruited him with clear intentions and what he was bringing to the team was evident and he’s not going to be in this season for us. We have to adapt, these things happen unfortunately, and we have to move on.”
The Spaniard also spoke about Timber’s reaction and whether the unfortunate incident will force the Gunners’ hand in the transfer market.
“He’s been very good, to be honest,” said Arteta on the defender’s current attitude to the setback.
“He’s a special character, he knows, and I think he’s started to realise the extent of the injury and the amount of time that he’s going to be out, but he’s in a good place. We are all willing to him help and we are all very close to him, but it’s going to be a long journey.
On whether he’s going to bring in a replacement before the transfer window shuts, the Gunners’ boss said: “I am more thinking about the resources that we have within the team to keep doing what we want to do. It’s true that he was giving us very different things in terms of what we could do on both sides, but again, these things happen, and we have to be prepared for that.”
Arsenal will play away at Selhurst Park on Monday, 21st August 2023, where they’ll be hoping to get another one over their London neighbours.
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