"It does not look rosy at the moment." That's Ronald Koeman on Jurrien Timber's chances of making the Champions League final — and the Dutch national team boss doesn't strike you as someone who sugarcoats things.
Timber has been sidelined since mid-March with a groin problem that has already derailed multiple comeback attempts. He's reportedly training again and pushing hard to be ready for Arsenal's showdown with Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30, but the injury's habit of switching back on whenever he ramps up the workload is the real problem here. This isn't a straightforward recovery — it's a groin issue that keeps biting.
What it actually means for Arsenal
Arsenal are already missing Ben White at right-back, which means a fit Timber isn't a luxury — he's a necessity. Without him, Mikel Arteta would likely have to field Cristhian Mosquera, a centre-back, in that position against a PSG side that has Khvicha Kvaratskhelia running at full throttle on the left. That's not a mismatch any coach wants going into a European final.
The plan, reportedly, is to get Timber back into first-team training before Arsenal's final Premier League game at Crystal Palace on Sunday. A return for that match looks almost certain not to happen, but getting him on the grass with teammates at least gives the medical staff a clearer read on where he actually is before the final decision gets made.
If he doesn't make it to Budapest fit, the consequences stretch well beyond May 30. Koeman announces his World Cup squad on May 27, and with Matthijs de Ligt, Jerdy Schouten, and Xavi Simons already ruled out through injury, losing Timber too would leave the Netherlands with a genuinely depleted defensive core heading into the tournament. Surgery could become the only option if the groin doesn't settle — which would end any World Cup hopes entirely.
Merino watching from the sofa, shouting at the TV
Arsenal's injury list doesn't stop with Timber. Mikel Merino is also in a race against time following foot surgery four months ago, and while he's intensified his rehabilitation, he looks set to miss the World Cup regardless of what happens in Budapest.
At least Merino has been candid about how difficult it's been. "I shout at the TV which is not great with the baby sleeping next to me," he admitted — which is probably the most relatable thing any footballer has said this season. The frustration is real, and so is the attachment to what this Arsenal squad is trying to do.
He's not wrong that the opportunity is rare. But sitting in a physio room watching teammates prepare for a Champions League final while you're doing resistance band exercises is a specific kind of torture — no matter how good the banter is.
Koeman's World Cup squad announcement on May 27 will tell us everything. If Timber's name isn't on it, the groin has won again.
