Arsenal handed huge Jurrien Timber blow as ACL injury 'confirmed'

Jurrien Timber is set to miss a substantial chunk of Arsenal’s season, it has been claimed.

According to the Mail Sport, Arsenal fear summer signing Timber suffered a serious knee injury in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

The Dutchman was handed his competitive debut for the season opener following his arrival from Ajax earlier this summer.

However Timber was forced off early in the second half with a suspected knee problem.

The 22-year-old has reportedly been undergoing various tests and scans as Arsenal medics assess the extent of the damage.

And Mail Sport have claimed there are major concerns the player may have suffered a significant knee ligament injury that will see him sidelined for months rather than weeks.

Meanwhile Dutch publication Telegraaf have claimed Timber will be sidelined for months with an injury to his with injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.

Indeed, should he be out for several months, as may be the case, the Netherlands international would miss games against Manchester United (September 3), Tottenham (September 24), Manchester City (October 7) and Chelsea (October 21).

Yet the news of a lengthy lay off will come as a significant blow to Mikel Arteta, who had been full of praise for Timber over pre-season.

Timber was injured in a challenge late in the first half but still reappeared for the second period.

However five minutes after the restart Timber went down and received treatment on his right knee, before being substituted.

After the game, Arteta said: “The doctors looked at him and they were happy for him to continue, he was as well. Straight away in the first action of the second half he made a movement and it was a bit funny.

“We took him out straight after and now we have to assess him and see what he has.”

Arteta is already without the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Folarin Balogun, Reiss Nelson and Mohamed Elneny for the start the campaign, while Gabriel Jesus is also currently sidelined after undergoing a knee procedure last week.