soccer

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber struggling with groin injury he picked up against Everton

Yahoo Sports

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber struggling with groin injury he picked up against Everton Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is currently struggling with a groin injury that he picked up against Everton earlier this month, according to the Sun . The Gunners ran out 2-0 winners over the Toffees at the Emirates Stadium, with the Dutchman lasting 38 minutes before Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta replaced him with Cristhian Mosquera. Timber has not played for the North London club since then and has also pulled out of international duty with the Netherlands.

However, the Arsenal star is expected to return to training soon and is hoping to be available for selection on April 4 when the Gunners visit Southampton for the quarter-final of the FA Cup. Having Timber back will be a huge boost for Arteta given the importance of their remaining fixtures. The Gunners will also resume Champions League and Premier League action next month, travelling to Portugal to take on Sporting CP in the first-leg of their quarter-final tie of the elite European competition on April 7.

They take on Bournemouth on April 11 at Emirates and Timber is expected to be fully fit for those games. Arsenal are also hoping Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard will be fit when club football resumes after they also pulled out of international duty. The Gunners missed out on winning the Carabao Cup on Sunday after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City and will be desperate to finish well in other competitions.

They remain top of the league table after 31 games, nine points clear second-place of Man City, and victory over the Cherries in their next league game will be huge. Arsenal could do with a fully fit squad as the run-in approaches, and having Timber and others available will come in handy.