If Mikel Arteta needs to replace Jurrien Timber for Arsenal’s match against Southampton, he has six potential substitutes.
Timber was substituted at halftime during the Champions League game against PSG after another solid performance, where he effectively contained Bradley Barcola on Arsenal’s right flank. He was replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
In the post-match press conference, Arteta was asked about Timber’s condition. While he remained cautious, the severity of the issue is still uncertain. Arteta remarked, “He was fantastic in the first half, but he felt something in his muscle and was unsure, so I didn’t want to take any risks. After not playing for a year, he’s logged a lot of minutes lately—probably more than we intended—and we need to monitor him closely.”
Timber may benefit from extra time to recover and manage his workload after recently returning from injury before the international break.
Ben White did not make the squad for Tuesday night’s game due to missing the final training session, according to Mikel Arteta. If he is nearing full fitness, Arteta may reintegrate him into the team.
White has missed the last three matches because of a knee injury, although he came on late against Manchester City to help secure the win at the Etihad Stadium. There is hope that he has had sufficient recovery time to provide strong backup.
If White isn’t ready, Arteta might replicate his strategy from the PSG game, where Riccardo Calafiori moved to the right side, and Kiwior replaced Timber. Calafiori displayed versatility during the first half, showing he could effectively play in various positions, which Arteta praised.
Arteta noted, “He’s a fantastic defender, bringing presence, energy, and commitment. He’s brave and eager to make things happen.”
Fans may not favor this approach, recalling that when Gabriel was absent last season, Thomas Partey played right back while White and William Saliba occupied the center-back roles, a strategy Arteta might consider again.
Once Mikel Merino is fully fit, he and Declan Rice can take up the deeper midfield positions, allowing Partey to shift back to right back. While supporters had reservations about this setup, it yielded good results previously.
In addition to these options, young Josh Nichols could be called up despite his challenges in the Carabao Cup against Bolton. Josh Robinson, another center-back who can also play right back, did not feature against PSG. Finally, Takehiro Tomiyasu might be selected if he passes fitness tests.
