Timber, 25, came off the bench for Arsenal in the Champions League quarter‑final against Paris Saint‑Germain in Budapest, helping the Gunners secure a 1‑1 draw before losing on penalties. The cameo, he said, proved costly – the Dutch federation subsequently ruled him unfit for the 2022 World Cup.
After a 25‑week injury spell that spanned the period before and after the tournament, Timber finally returned to competitive action last week when Arsenal beat Sunderland, and he started for the first time in six months in the league clash with Brighton.
Although he has reported for the Netherlands this week, Timber did not take part in Arsenal’s first‑team training on Tuesday. Both Arsenal and Dutch coaches are coordinating his workload, limiting his minutes to avoid aggravating his lingering issues.
Speaking to the press from the Dutch camp, Timber described the recovery as a “miracle” that allowed him to feel fit only during the week of the Champions League final. He admitted that while he appeared fine on the surface, he could not give his all in a match, a limitation that would not be tolerated in training.
He added that after being dropped from the World Cup squad, he realised he needed a period of rest to recover from both the physical setback and the disappointment of missing the tournament.
The next test for Timber will be whether he is selected by new Netherlands head coach Xavi for the Nations League tie against Germany on Thursday, a decision that will hinge on his fitness and the joint monitoring by Arsenal and Dutch staff.