Arsenal £40m new boy Jurrien Timber is set to undergo knee surgery

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is set to undergo knee surgery in news that will arrive as a major blow to Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners have been dealt a crushing injury blow after summer signing Timber suffered a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury in the opening weekend win over Nottingham Forest.

Mail Sport were first to reveal on Monday that the Holland international had suffered a serious knee injury amid concerns he would miss months of the season.

Those fears have been realised in the last 48 hours following further tests with a knee specialist.

It is understood Timber is now expected to undergo surgery to repair the injury and is likely to miss a minimum six months of the season, although Arsenal are reluctant to put a specific timescale on his recovery.

Timber was handed an instant competitive debut against Forest on the opening weekend of the season following his arrival from Ajax earlier in the summer.

But the versatile defender was substituted early in the second half suffering the injury.

He had taken a blow in the first-half but was deemed fit enough to return at half-time.

Timber only arrived at Arsenal a few weeks ago following a £40million move from Ajax.

But he will now spend his first season in England undergoing a gruelling rehabilitation programme as he aims to regain full fitness before the end of the season.