Mikel Arteta drops injury updates for Arsenal duo William Saliba and Jurrien Timber

Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba after both missed Arsenal's pre-season defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund on Sunday

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a new update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba following Sunday's 3-2 pre-season defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

Timber missed two months at the back end of last season due to an ankle injury, but returned in time for the Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

However, a groin problem caused him to miss the World Cup. The Netherlands international did report to pre-season with Arsenal as planned, but returned home from the club's training camp in Spain ahead of their game against Girona.

The Gunners insisted the decision to send Timber back to London was part of his rehabilitation schedule and not because of a fresh setback in his recovery.

The 25-year-old has since not featured for Arsenal in pre-season, missing the first three matches against Girona, Real Betis and then Dortmund, instead spending time on the grass getting back fit.

Saliba, meanwhile, suffered a serious back injury while playing for France at the World Cup. The former Saint-Etienne defender, who has been playing through the pain barrier since March, broke down during his side's 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain last month.

It has since been revealed that Saliba could miss up to five months of action and may require surgery on his back. The injury is a similar complaint to the one he suffered near the end of 2022/23.

Now, Arteta has provided an update on Timber and Saliba with both players expected to miss at least the start of the new Premier League season.

Arteta said in his post-Dortmund press conference: "I cannot be very precise with that. But Jurrien is progressing really well. He's on the pitch, he's doing quite a lot right now. But he's still weeks away. I cannot tell you how much.

"And William is in rest mode at the moment for two weeks. He had to do almost nothing, don't aggravate the injury. It's going to take some time to heal. We know that. And as quick as we have more news, we can inform."

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The Gunners are in the market for a new defender before the end of the summer transfer window. Ezri Konsa is considered as the club's top target but Aston Villa are determined to keep him.

When asked about adding another defender to his squad, Arteta continued: "Well, that's what we're trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better. We are very looking forward to that."

Arsenal face Como in their fourth pre-season fixture on Wednesday. They then take on Manchester City in the Community Shield next weekend before their Premier League curtain-raiser against Coventry City.