Mikel Arteta provides Jurrien Timber injury update after Arsenal defender brought off against PSG

Mikel Arteta confirmed Jurrien Timber was taken off at half-time in Arsenal’s win over PSG as a precaution.

The 23-year-old started at right-back in the Champions League match at the Emirates Stadium, with Ben White unavailable due his own injury concerns.

Timber impressed during the first-half but was withdrawn at the break and replaced by Jakub Kiwior, a decision Arteta explained after his side’s 2-0 victory over the Ligue 1 leaders.

“He was unbelievable,” Arteta said of Timber’s performance.

“He felt something muscular and we didn’t want to take any risks. He has been out a year and played a lot of minutes. We have to manage him.”

Timber missed almost the entirety of last season with an ACL injury, but has already made seven starts this season and proved equally reliable both at left-back and right-back.

In the first-half against PSG, he was up against Bradley Barcola and kept the winger quiet, while continuing to show signs of a promising relationship with Bukayo Saka.

When Timber was brought off, Riccardo Calafiori moved to right-back for the second-half, meaning Arsenal had three left-footed players in their back four.

It was still a comfortable night for the Gunners, who took a two-goal lead into the break after Kai Havertz headed home the opener and Saka then scored directly from a free-kick out wide.

Arsenal now sit on four points from their opening two European games, as they eye the top-eight finish that will see them directly through to the last-16.

Arteta’s side next host Shakhtar Donetsk, before away trips to face Inter Milan and Sporting.