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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed a significant update on Jurrien Timber\u2019s recovery from injury ahead of the Champions League final.<\/p>\n
Timber has been one of Arsenal<\/strong>\u2018s star performers this season, so the Premier League giants have sorely missed him while he has been out of action with a groin injury.<\/p>\n Initially, Timber<\/strong> was not expected to be unavailable for too long, but has yet to play since picking up the injury in March.<\/p>\n A recent update from Arteta revealed that the right-back could be out for the remainder of this season<\/strong>and this issue has been made worse by Ben White also being ruled out until the summer.<\/p>\n But fresh off winning the Premier League title, Arteta has revealed there is still hope of Timber playing for Arsenal in next weekend\u2019s Champions League final.<\/p>\n \u201cMikel (Merino) is going to start training with the group tomorrow,\u201d Arteta told a press conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n READ:\u00a0Arsenal labelled the \u2018worst\u2019 and \u2018greatest\u2019 PL champions ever as \u2018real challenge\u2019 for Arteta next<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cJurrien, let\u2019s hope he can do the same in the next few days. But he\u2019s still a little further behind Mikel at that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs (which looks to boost body performance), has explained why the length of Timber\u2019s layoff could make his return \u201cmore difficult\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the player is not on the field and training at this point after two months out, think of the match sharpness they have lost,\u201d Smith told Metro.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Ranking Andrea Berta\u2019s best decisions in first year as Arsenal sporting director<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNot to say it is impossible, it is not like he has been sat at home, I am sure they are doing a lot of work with him.<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal are short of numbers with Ben White out so it could maybe change their posture towards that and how they think about utilising Timber in these final weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it certainly makes it more difficult. The importance of the games coming up too, everything matters.\u201d<\/p>\n On winning the title, Arteta revealed how he found out that the Gunners had gotten over the line.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s incredible to hear those words, especially when you consider the journey they\u2019ve been on, the manner that we\u2019ve done it, and how many people have been involved and waiting so long to complete that goal,\u201d Arteta said on winning the Premier League title.<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Arsenal dominate ranking of ways to win title from worst to best \u2013 but 2026 effort is 30th<\/strong><\/p>\n When asked how he experienced Tuesday night, Arteta added: \u201cYou don\u2019t realise it. It\u2019s one of the best feelings I\u2019ve ever had.<\/p>\n \u201cI was supposed to be here at Colney watching the game with the boys but I couldn\u2019t. I had to leave, I couldn\u2019t bring the energy that I wanted. I think it was the moment to watch it together themselves. I went home, I went out to the garden, did a barbecue and didn\u2019t watch any of it.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard some noises from the living room and suddenly the magic happened. It was beautiful to see the joy on my family\u2019s faces.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\u201cIt certainly makes it more difficult\u2026\u201d<\/h2>\n