Arsenal have started the season properly, five games, five wins, silverware already banked, and another statement made in Europe. The 1-0 win over Napoli was controlled, mature and, for long spells, one-sided. Martin Odegaard supplied the decisive moment, and Mikel Arteta got more evidence that his side can win in different ways.
Now comes Sunderland away, which looks straightforward on paper and usually never is in practice. The Stadium of Light can turn awkward quickly, Sunderland are unbeaten in three, and Arsenal head there with a familiar problem, defenders in various stages of recovery.
That is the real issue heading into the weekend. Arsenal have quality, depth and momentum, but they are still managing absentees at the back. Here is where things stand with Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera before the trip to Wearside.
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Jurrien Timber closing in on Arsenal return
Timber is the closest of the three to coming back. He has barely featured for Arsenal since damaging his groin against Everton in March. There was the brief sighting off the bench in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in May, but that comeback did not hold. A setback followed, he missed the World Cup with the Netherlands, and he has yet to play this season.
Still, this is no longer a case of distant optimism. Timber has been back in training for several weeks and travelled with the squad to Naples, even if he was not used. That matters. Players do not make those trips for decoration.
Arteta sounded positive before the Chelsea win and kept it simple, “Jurrien is in really good condition at the moment, he’s been a few weeks on the pitch and has been training with us, so he’s in a really good place.” He added, “We will decide [on his involvement on Sunday] after training [on Saturday].”
That leaves Arsenal with a choice. They can use him at Sunderland if he comes through the final session cleanly, or they can wait and give him minutes…
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