Arsenal get huge Jurrien Timber update ahead of Fulham clash | Football

Jurrien Timber is expected to be available for selection when Arsenal return to Premier League action against Fulham next week.

The former Ajax star has firmly established himself in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI across the backline, making the right-back role his own during Ben White’s absence from the side.

Timber was named in the Netherlands squad for the Nations League quarter-final ties against Spain but sat out of the first leg last Thursday due to illness.

Ahead of Sunday’s second leg, Timber was sent home, withdrawing from international duty with Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen called into replace him.

He is however expected to recover well in time for the visit of Fulham on 1 April, the Evening Standard report.

Having missed his entire debut season with Arsenal after a serious knee injury on his Premier League debut, Timber has been almost ever-present in Arteta’s side this season, missing just four games through injury.

Arsenal also hope to have Bukayo Saka available against Marco Silva’s side for the first time this year having undergone hamstring surgery.

Saka has stepped up his return in training during the international break having been sidelined since December.

But the Gunners are sweating on the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori. The defender was forced off playing for Italy against Germany last week with a knee issue caused when he appeared to slip whole changing direction.

Calafiori missed the second leg, returning to Arsenal for further treatment.

‘Riccardo Calafiori, who underwent tests this morning for the sprain-contusion trauma to his left knee sustained during the match against Germany, has been deemed unavailable for the return match scheduled for Sunday and will return to his home club,’ a statement said.  

Reports have suggested Calafiori will face two to three weeks on the sidelines.

That timeline could rule him out of games against Fulham and Everton in the Premier League and the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.

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