Jurrien Timber is almost back to full fitness, so Mikel Arteta might have a fully healthy squad to pick from when the team plays Bournemouth on Sunday. The Spanish man is ecstatic beyond belief.

“Yes, availability was something important, as we had previously discussed,” he stated prior to Tottenham’s triumph in the North London Derby last weekend. That’s a major advantage that improves training sessions, player competition, and the options for selecting the best lineups to influence the course of play. It will be a highly significant event.


Even while Arteta is thrilled, having the entire team available has drawbacks as well. One of his guys is going to have to be quite upset with him.

This is especially true at left-back, where Arteta has three realistic choices to start this Saturday against Bournemouth. Timber can play there, of course, but it’s too soon for him to get part in games right now.

Rather, it will ultimately come down to Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior. All three of them have at one point been Arsenal’s first picks at left back, but their ability to rotate at the position shows how fierce the competition is still for a starting place.
Kiwior provides strong defense. Although he can contribute offensively and is a solid passer, as a natural center defender, his main goal is to stop the opposition.


In contrast, Zinchenko is more of a creator. With his passing range, the Ukrainian can divide any defense in international football as he creeps into midfield. However, he may also present a defensive risk and give opponents opportunities.

Tomiyasu is somewhere in between the two. Although the Japan international is not a line-breaking passer, Arteta believes he is the club’s finest one-on-one defender due to his technical skill.

In their recent games against Chelsea, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich, Arteta has relied heavily on Tomiyasu. If he can avoid getting hurt this weekend against Bournemouth, you can assume he will be the one to start.


It’s interesting to note that Timber has been utilized at left-back instead of his preferred position of right-back in the Under-21s’ few recent appearances. Now, that might be due to Mehmet Ali’s side’s relative lack of choices in this position, but it might also be a sign of Arteta’s plans for the Dutchman.

Neither Kiwior, Zinchenko, nor Tomiyasu have been able to secure that starting position. The game on Saturday against Bournemouth may be Timber’s best – and possibly final – opportunity to make a comeback, as it is rapidly approaching.