Timber sits out Netherlands training as Arsenal's right-back crisis deepens

Jurrien Timber sat out group training with the Netherlands during the international break, according to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, deepening Arsenal’s growing injury crisis at right-back ahead of the Premier League’s resumption.

The Gunners have been in contact with new Oranje head coach Xavi Hernandez to arrange an individual programme for Timber, with the 23-year-old unlikely to feature against Germany this week. It follows a difficult summer for the defender, who missed the end of Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign through injury and was subsequently left out of the Netherlands squad for the World Cup.

Timber had only recently returned to first-team action, completing an hour in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat at Brighton — a match in which Declan Rice was deployed at right-back to manage Timber’s workload. That workaround is no longer available: Rice has since pulled out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad with an injury of his own.

The situation at right-back is now critically thin for Mikel Arteta. Ben White, who had been covering the position during Timber’s recovery, picked up an injury just before the international break. Cristian Mosquera remains sidelined with a knee problem, while William Saliba’s back issue has forced summer signing Ezri Konsa to play exclusively in central defence since joining the club.

Arsenal have otherwise made a solid start to the season, collecting 12 points from their opening five Premier League fixtures, with the three-week break offering Arteta a window to recover personnel before the schedule resumes. The Gunners return to league action against Leeds United.

Timber is valued at €65 million by Transfermarkt.