Jurrien Timber's pre-season in jeopardy? Arsenal defender forced to undergo ankle operation as mystery surrounds recovery timeline

Per The Telegraph, Timber will go under the knife due to a persisting ankle problem he has been nursing since last month. After examining his condition, the club's medical staff decided that the player needed surgery. However, it remains unclear when the player will regain full fitness and return to the pitch.

Timber's ankle issue cropped up since last month, which forced him to start in just one out of the club's last seven Premier League matches as he was keeping himself fit for the Champions League clashes against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

In Timber's absence, Ben White is likely to step up and fill in the right-back role in the club's final game of the season on May 25 against Southampton.

Timber, who missed the entire 2023-24 campaign due to an ACL injury, became an integral part of Mikel Arteta's side in the current season, having made 48 appearances across all competitions. Arteta will hope that the defender recovers quickly from his surgery and joins the team from the start for their pre-season preparations.