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Arsenal will continue to be without key defensive starters Jurriën Timber and William Saliba well into the upcoming Premier League season, after manager Mikel Arteta provided the latest update on the injured duo.
Timber sat out the World Cup with the Netherlands due to a persistent groin issue that first emerged nearly five months ago. His substitute appearance in May's Champions League final remains his only outing of any kind since March.
Although Timber — Arteta's first-choice right back when fit — has been part of Arsenal's preseason setup, the manager has confirmed the Dutchman is "still weeks away" from stepping back onto the pitch. No specific timeline has been given, but with Arsenal's title defense kicking off with a Friday night home game against Coventry City on Aug. 21, and four additional league matches scheduled before the September international break in six weeks, a return before October may be optimistic.
"I cannot be very precise with [Timber's return schedule]," Arteta told reporters. "Jurriën is progressing really well. He's on the [training] pitch and doing quite a lot right now but is still weeks away [from playing a match]—I cannot tell you how [many weeks]."
Saliba did feature at the World Cup, but a back injury sustained during France's semifinal loss to Spain last month has ruled him out. Arsenal confirmed roughly a week after that setback that the influential defender would be sidelined for an "extended period."
Arteta has since elaborated that "Willy is in rest mode" and has done "almost nothing" over recent weeks to prevent any further aggravation. "It's going to take some time to heal."
At this stage, Saliba's absence must be considered open-ended, leaving a glaring void in central defense alongside Gabriel — the fact that Arsenal's collapse in the 2022–23 Premier League title race is widely linked to Saliba's ill-timed injury only highlights how vital he is to the side.
Injury Concerns Explain Arsenal's Hunt for Another Defender
Cristhian Mosquera is once again being called upon to fill the void left by Saliba, while Timber's continued absence puts fresh pressure on Ben White at right back, with the Englishman having been linked with a summer departure.
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Piero Hincapié is another candidate to slot into the center back role, though the Ecuador international has typically been deployed at left back given Riccardo Calafiori's patchy availability.
The concerning nature of Arsenal's last two preseason outings — conceding six goals across matches against Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund — highlights the need for reinforcements. Mosquera was paired with Hincapié for the Betis fixture, before lining up alongside the returning Gabriel against Dortmund.
To strengthen their defensive options, the Gunners have been connected with Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa for several weeks. Reports have also emerged regarding Sporting CP's Iván Fresneda and Como prospect Jacobo Ramón. Tottenham Hotspur skipper Cristian Romero is another name in the mix, though that deal appears close to impossible, with Spurs reportedly viewing any sale to Arsenal as a "non-starter."