Mikel Arteta issues Jurrien Timber injury update ahead of Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains uncertain over a return date for Jurrien Timber due to a groin injury.

Timber has missed Arsenal’s last eight matches and was not training with the squad on Tuesday ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening.

In the Premier League, Arsenal currently sit three points clear of Manchester City with just four games remaining.

But Arteta is unsure whether Timber will play a part in Arsenal’s title run-in against City.

When asked if he knows a return date for Timber, Arteta said on Tuesday evening: ‘We don’t know yet.

‘He is doing some stuff on the pitch at the moment. But we need to get the gears up and be able to do more things before he can compete with us.’

Arteta also confirmed that Kai Havertz will miss the game against Atletico, while Eberechi Eze is available after both were forced off in the win against Newcastle United last weekend.

Speaking on his side’s semi-final against Atletico, Arteta added: ‘After that win, a massive win for us against Newcastle, you could sense straight away the energy, the confidence coming into this game.

‘It’s a massive privilege to be here again, two years in a row in the semi-final of the Champions League, representing our club, what an opportunity we’re going to grab with both hands.

‘We’re going to see a team that wants to be dominant, that wants to win it, and that wants to start to decide the tie tomorrow.’

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