Arsenal’s new signing Jurrien Timber suffered a knee injury that forced him to be substituted shortly after the halftime break during the Gunners’ opening match of the season against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
After assessment by the team doctors, the club announced that Timber’s injury was worse than earlier thought and that he would need surgery on the knee to repair his ACL. This would keep the Dutchman out of action for the first half of the season.
As such, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the club are open to bringing in more players before the summer transfer window closes, after assessing the club’s options.
“We didn’t plan with this injury. We have to assess what the options are, what are the best players that we have because, as I said, my challenge is to get the best from the players that we have,” Arteta said, as quoted by The Athletic.
He added, “I cannot assess anyone who is not here. We are always open and we have to be open as well to react if something happens, not only with an injury but if something happens in the market as well. That’s what we’re doing.
“It’s never my own decision, it’s one we make with the club and involves a lot of elements to it. My focus is on getting the best out of my squad and we are open to the transfer window both ways as we still have things to do both ways, maybe.”
Arsenal entered the market early and got the players they wanted early enough to feature in their preseason matches.
With the arrival of goalkeeper David Raya a few days ago, it was believed that incomings are done and that the club would now focus on offloading those that won’t be needed.
All this could change, as the club could go back into the market to find another defender.
