Arsenal handed massive injury boost. Timber alternative returns to full training

The Gunners are set to be without their summer signing for an extended period of time but Mikel Arteta's options have been bolstered by the return of one of his most important players

Jurrien Timber's injury is a massive blow for Arsenal. There is no way to sugar coat it.

What was so impressive about Timber was his versatility. Throughout his career the 22-year-old had been primarily used as a right back, or a right sided centre back. Mikel Arteta though had deployed him at left back. It's a position Timber had played in the past, but not one that you could say he was necessarily a natural in.

Still though the Dutchman thrived. His technical excellence offered Arsenal yet another way of controlling possession as he inverted into the midfield, while his aggression in the tackle and superb athleticism gave them license to commit more men forward in attack without the fear of being caught on the counter.

With how important he has been to Arsenal's start to the season, this is a massive blow for the Gunners. Thankfully for Arteta though, Timber's impending absence looks set to coincide with the return of one of his most important players from last season.

Before Timber came along, the man doing the inverting into midfield at the Emirates was Oleksandr Zinchenko. This revolutionised the left back position at Arsenal following his £35million signing from Manchester City. Previously, the Gunners had had a more traditional overlapping full back in Kieran Tierney playing the role, but now they had someone who could either isolate Gabriel Martinelli one-vs-one with the opposition right back, or dictate play from the centre of the pitch with his superb range of passing.

Throughout pre-season so far, Zinchenko has been absent with a calf problem. For much of the US tour the Ukraine international was training on his own. This continued for a short while upon Arsenal's return to London Colney, but it is looking as though he may be close to a return.

The 26-year-old was in contention for the Gunners' Premier League opening fixture with Nottingham Forest, but did not make the squad as he was not deemed quite ready yet. Zinchenko is now back in full training though, and with Timber's injury it's possible that this may well speed up his return. The squad will get a day off on Friday, and it is likely that a decision will be made over the weekend as to whether Zinchenko will be involved for Monday night's clash with Crystal Palace.

Alternatively, the Gunners could use Jakub Kiwior in the position, or Takehiro Tomiyasu. Tierney also remains an option amid interest from Real Sociedad and Newcastle.

Elsewhere, Gabriel Jesus will not be fit in time for Palace. Arsenal are hoping to get the Brazilian more active again this week after he had minor surgery on a knee problem towards the end of last month. Mohamed Elneny is also unlikely to return before September as he recovers from a knee injury of his own.