Arteta: Timber nearing Arsenal return as Havertz earns praise for ‘exceptional intelligence’

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Jurrien Timber is close to returning from injury, but the defender’s availability for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Sunderland will depend on how he responds in the club’s final training session.

Arsenal travel to the Stadium of Light for their fourth-round fixture, with Timber having made good progress in his recovery.

“We will see how Jurrien Timber responds in training,” Arteta said at his pre-match news conference. “We have one final session and he is doing extremely well.”

Arteta also provided an update on the club’s other defensive options. England international Ben White is fit and available, while French defender Christian Mosquera is continuing to make progress.

“Ben White is ready and fine,” Arteta said. “Christian Mosquera is doing very well. We will see whether he can return for this match or the next one.”

The Arsenal manager also highlighted Kai Havertz’s intelligence and his ability to anticipate situations during matches.

“Kai is extremely intelligent, and that is his biggest quality,” Arteta said. “He understands the game and is five or 10 seconds ahead of others. He knows what is going to happen and does not need to think about it; he acts immediately.”

Havertz has scored three goals in five appearances for Arsenal this season, although he has not provided an assist.

“He scores goals and creates chances,” Arteta added. “He is a great player and is currently in an excellent state of mind.”

Asked about the possibility of Arsenal facing a 0.05% chance of relegation, Arteta said the team could not afford to lose focus.

“We must always remain alert,” he said.

Arteta also discussed the importance of Ezri Konsa and the reassurance his presence gives the team. Arsenal have had to cope with a shortage of defensive options, with William Saliba absent for a period, Timber sidelined for a long time and Mosquera later suffering a problem.

“I feel reassured having him,” Arteta said. “We had William Saliba out, and Jurrien Timber was also unavailable for long periods. Then Mosquera had a problem, so we were extremely short in defence.”

He added: “We needed to bring in another good player for that position, especially because we knew how many minutes those players would have to play.”

Arsenal are second in the Premier League table on nine points after three victories, level on points with leaders Manchester City but behind on goal difference.

Arsenal are the champions of the previous Premier League edition, finishing seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City.