Arsenal sweating on Jurrien Timber injury as Mikel Arteta gets worrying update

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Jurrien Timber's chances of being fit for the Champions League final “do not look rosy.”

That comes despite the Arsenal defender stepping up his training this week in a desperate bid to be ready for the showdown with Paris Saint Germain on May 30 and the World Cup. Timber has been out since mid-March with a groin injury and has already seen attempted comebacks suffer setbacks.

But the Holland full-back is understood to be more confident this time despite his own national manager, Ronald Koeman, fearful that he could be left without a key player.

Koeman, who will name his World Cup squad on May 27, said: “Jurrien has been dealing with this for quite some time. It has been on and off.

“He is now training up again to see if he can make the Champions League final and if he is available for the World Cup. It does not look rosy at the moment.”

The hope is that Timber will step up his training work this week and even join the first team group ahead of Sunday’s final Premier League game of the season at Crystal Palace . He would be highly unlikely to be ready for that but Arsenal face a PSG side in Budapest that boasts winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who is regarded as one of the best in the world .

It would be a big gamble but they are already without Ben White and would have to otherwise use centre half Cristhian Mosquera as a makeshift right back.

That is why Arsenal are keen to get Timber back to speed in the hope of him having a chance but if he does not make it then he will miss the World Cup and could even need surgery on the issue.

Timber's absence would be another setback for Koeman. Defender Matthijs de Ligt, midfielder Jerdy Schouten, and forward Xavi Simons are already out through injury.

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Meanwhile, Mikel Merino is another Arsenal player hoping to be back into full training ahead of the Champions League after foot surgery. The Gunners midfielder has been out for four months and is set to miss the World Cup but has stepped up his training in the past week.

He admitted that it has been very difficult to watch from the sidelines and has “suffered” at times with the fans while he is even harder to put up with when he watches at home on TV with his new baby.

Merino said: “It’s hard because on the one hand I want to be on the pitch supporting my teammates because I was born to play football

“But if you cannot do it, you have to do it in a different way and make an impact and my role is to give advice, give tips and support in the bad times as well.

“I try to push for my position now and make everyone put a bit on the table now so we can win a trophy at the end of the season.

“If I’m in the stadium then I’m quite quiet but if I’m at home then I shout at the TV which is not great with the baby sleeping next to me!

“But I suffer, you can feel stressed like everyone else. When you’re on the pitch you don’t feel that pressure, you don’t feel it so much and you just want to be out there.”

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Merino insisted that despite missing a chunk of the season that he is still living the dream and has enjoyed coming into training.

He added: “It’s a dream to be honest, what you dream of as a kid and you can win the title, the Champions League, they are the things you can only dream of and now you are living them right now.

“I feel blessed, it’s a huge opportunity and I’m enjoying being round these people.

“It’s only been two seasons but I feel like I’ve been here for a long, long time and I feel part of the family for sure.

“It’s great going to work every day, you work hard, it’s tough but when you’re in the physio room, when you’re in the gym, you have good banter.

“We have an amazing squad and it’s time to use it and get to the final stages of the season with good vibes.”