**Six Exciting Options for Mikel Arteta to Replace Jurrien Timber in Arsenal’s Clash with Southampton!**
Here are six Arsenal stars poised to fill the void left by injured defender Jurrien Timber in the showdown against Southampton!
If Mikel Arteta needs to find a replacement for Jurrien Timber in Arsenal’s upcoming match against Southampton, he has six possible options.
Timber was substituted at halftime during the Champions League match against PSG after a strong performance in which he effectively contained Bradley Barcola on Arsenal’s right flank. He was replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
In the post-match press conference, Arteta provided an update on Timber’s condition. While he remained cautious, the seriousness of the injury is still unclear. Arteta stated, “He was fantastic in the first half, but he felt something in his muscle and was uncertain, so I didn’t want to take any risks. After not playing for a year, he’s accumulated a lot of minutes lately—probably more than we had planned—and we need to keep a close eye on him.”
Timber may benefit from additional recovery time to manage his workload following his recent return from injury before the international break.
Mikel Arteta noted that Ben White did not make the squad for Tuesday night’s match because he missed the final training session. If White is approaching full fitness, Arteta may reintegrate him into the lineup.
White has been absent for the last three matches due to a knee injury, although he did come on late against Manchester City to help secure the win at the Etihad Stadium. There is optimism that he has had enough recovery time to provide reliable support.
If White is not ready, Arteta might adopt a similar strategy to the PSG match, where Riccardo Calafiori shifted to the right side and Kiwior took Timber’s place. Calafiori demonstrated versatility during the first half, proving he could effectively play in multiple positions, which Arteta praised.
Arteta commented, “He’s a fantastic defender, bringing presence, energy, and commitment. He’s brave and eager to make things happen.”
Fans may not favor this approach, recalling that when Gabriel was absent last season, Thomas Partey played right back while White and William Saliba occupied the center-back roles—an option Arteta might consider again.
Once Mikel Merino is fully fit, he and Declan Rice could take on the deeper midfield roles, allowing Partey to move back to right back. While supporters had reservations about this setup, it previously yielded positive results.
In addition to these options, young Josh Nichols could be called up despite facing challenges in the Carabao Cup against Bolton. Josh Robinson, another center-back capable of playing right back, did not feature against PSG. Lastly, Takehiro Tomiyasu may be selected if he passes fitness tests.
