Arteta Clarifies Timber’s Half-Time Substitution in Arsenal’s Win Over PSG
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on why Jurrien Timber was substituted at half-time during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Despite Arsenal securing a vital win at the Emirates, Timber’s early exit raised concerns about his fitness.
The Dutch defender, who has been a regular fixture in the team since the start of the season, was replaced by Jakub Kiwior at the break.
Arteta later confirmed that Timber was dealing with a muscle issue, and the decision to substitute him was precautionary.
“He was excellent in the first half,” Arteta said, “but he felt something muscular, and we didn’t want to take any chances.
He’s played more minutes than we initially planned, and considering he’s been out for a year, we need to manage him carefully.”
Timber’s return to action this season has been significant after recovering from an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for most of last year.
His performances have been key for Arsenal, and Arteta will be hoping that this latest concern doesn’t develop into a serious issue.
With Arsenal set to face Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, the club is monitoring Timber’s fitness closely.
Fans are hopeful he can recover in time for the weekend, as well as the upcoming international break, where he’s been included in the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League squad.
Timber’s resilience and strong performances have been a positive story this season, and Arteta’s careful handling could be crucial for both Arsenal and the Netherlands.
