World Cup team furious at Arsenal over Champions League final decision

Mikel Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League final (Picture: Getty)

The Netherlands World Cup camp was ‘extremely frustrated’ at Arsenal over Mikel Arteta ’s decision to play Jurrien Timber in the Champions League final.

Timber looked set to miss Arsenal’s Champions League final against PSG as he had been out for several months with a groin injury.

But the 24-year-old came on as a 66th-minute substitute in the final in Budapest, making his first appearance in over two months.

Arteta insisted Timber was ‘fit to play’ in the final – which Arsenal lost on penalties – but a week the right-back was ruled out of the World Cup.

England's hero (Picture:Getty)

Just nine days after the Champions League final, Netherlands confirmed that Timber would play no part in the World Cup and had been replaced in the squad by Lutsharel Geertruida, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland .

In a statement, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said Timber had ‘not recovered sufficiently’ to take part in the tournament in a ‘medically responsible manner’.

They added: ‘In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the national team’s pre-camp in New York after the [friendly] game against Uzbekistan.’

Jurrien Timber during the Champions League final (Picture: Getty)

Timber could have been a key player for Netherlands in the World Cup as he has established himself as one of the best right-backs in the world since joining Arsenal from Ajax in 2023.

Instead the Premier League title winner watched on from back home as Ronald Koeman’s side were knocked out of the World Cup in the round-of-32 by Morocco.

Timber was hoping to add to his 23 international caps but was not fit enough to play in the World Cup.

Ex-Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman (Picture: Getty)

According to The Sun , members of the Dutch World Cup camp are ‘extremely frustrated’ at Arteta’s decision to risk Timber against PSG following his injury setback.

After his hopes of playing in the World Cup were over, Timber said: ‘I’m heartbroken to miss the World Cup.

‘Representing my country on the biggest stage is something I’ve always dreamed of, and it’s difficult to accept that injury has taken that opportunity away from me.

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‘While this isn’t the path I had hoped for, I trust that God has a plan greater than the one I can see right now.’

Netherlands topped Group F after beating Sweden and Tunisia and drawing with Japan.

Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo appeared to have sent them through to the last-16 against Morocco but the African side scored an injury-time equaliser before winning on penalties.

Morocco knocked Netherlands out (Picture: Getty)

Koeman, 63, stepped down as Netherlands manager after the disappointing World Cup exit.

‘Looking back on my career, I feel especially proud,’ the 63-year-old former Everton and Southampton boss said.

‘I have worked with clubs and people that shaped me and gave me memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

‘We all dreamed of a World Cup in which we would write history. That didn’t work out. No-one is more disappointed about that than me.

‘The past years have made me realise again that there are more important things than football.

‘Football has been my life, but health is priceless. When someone you love is fighting a tough battle, your perspective changes.’

Koeman has previously revealed that his wife, Bartina, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.