Arteta gets double injury boost including star icon called 'not good enough'

12 January 2024 , 01:00

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Jurrien Timber has stepped up his recovery from an ACL injury (Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal have been handed a major injury boost after both Jurrien Timber and Fabio Vieira were seen training during the Gunners' winter training camp in Dubai.

Timber joined Arsenal from Ajax over the summer, but has been out of action since August after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest.

There were concerns the defender could be out for the entire season but his recovery is going well, with Arsenal sharing footage of Timber taking part in some ball work while out in Dubai. Vieira, meanwhile, has been pictured back in full team training as he continues his recovery after undergoing groin surgery in November.

The midfielder has missed Arsenal's last ten games in all competitions, but Arteta admitted earlier this month he hopes Vieira will be available for selection by the end of the month. "He's doing well again, but it was a surgery that required two different things to get results," Arteta said.

"The first signs are good, obviously he is still a bit far from where we want him, but he needs to keep working and hopefully in the next few weeks we can have him [available]." However, Arsenal legend Paul Merson claimed earlier this season that Vieira simply "isn't good enough" for the Gunners.

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Speaking after Arsenal's 2-2 draw with North London rivals Tottenham in September, Merson told Sky Sports: "I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday but when I saw the teams, I was majorly worried.

"Jesus on the wing, Nketiah up front, Fabio Vieira - I don't think he's good enough. Then Declan Rice comes off and Jorginho comes on. It wasn't Arsenal's strongest team but when you think about theChampions Leagueand all the games they have to play, it looked a bit weak on Sunday, didn't it?

Fabio Vieira has returned to full training after undergoing groin surgery (Getty Images)

"Now, if Arsenal lose against Manchester City on October 8, they will be out of the title race. They would be seven points behind. Arsenal wouldn't catch Man City if there were 600 games left if City had a seven-point head start.

"You just can't make that up, as from then Arsenal would only have one game against City and it would be away. That game at the Emirates is a huge match, it's make or break already."

Arsenal went on to beat City 1-0 in October and currently sit level with them on points, albeit having played an extra game. However, they are five points behind leaders Liverpool after winning just one of their last five league games.

Matthew Cooper