Mikel Arteta said on Thursday morning that Riccardo Calafiori’s availability was uncertain after the left-back picked up a knock in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over West Ham last weekend, and that Jurrien Timber — sidelined for two months with a groin problem — had shown “a little bit” of progress as the club prepared to face Burnley on Monday night.
Calafiori was replaced at half-time in the 1-0 victory over West Ham, and Arteta did not clear him for selection. "We don't know whether he's going to be available or not," Arteta said, adding: "We still have days ahead. Hopefully it's nothing serious but we will have to wait and see how he reacts." The uncertainty compounds Arsenal's defensive headache after Ben White suffered a season-ending knee injury against West Ham, leaving the club short of options at right-back.
Timber has not played since coming off in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton two months ago and has missed the last 12 games. Arteta said the defender had been trying to stay close to the group: "He wanted to be very close to the team [against West Ham]. He's progressed a little bit in the last few days. He's feeling better." Timber stood on the pitch at the London Stadium on Sunday and was present while his teammates warmed up, a sign of his determination to return.
For mikel arteta the gap between what he wants and what is possible is narrowing. He described Timber's role off the field in emphatic terms: "He’s doing everything that he possibly can to help the team in any capacity. We know his leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him. He’s trying everything he can." Arteta added: "We're going to try to get him fit and available as quick as possible but let's see."
Context matters: Calafiori’s issue followed the West Ham match, Timber’s absence stems from an ongoing groin issue first aggravated in the Everton game, and White’s injury removes a seasoned, regular option on the right. Timber’s spell out has included key fixtures — he has missed Arsenal’s last 12 games, a stretch that encompassed the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City and the Champions League semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid.
The tension is practical and immediate. Arsenal are due to play Burnley on Monday night and cannot wait weeks for a full recovery window. The club has to balance rushing a player back — Timber has been on the fringes at recent matches — against the reality that he has not featured since the Everton win two months ago. Calafiori, who left the West Ham match at half-time, remains a short-term question mark: "We still have days ahead. Hopefully it's nothing serious but we will have to wait and see how he reacts."
Arteta made the stakes clear in one phrase about Timber’s absence: "Obviously he’s been out now for a while unfortunately. He’s such an important player for us, we all know that." That importance is why Arsenal will test recovery timelines rather than accept makeshift solutions without exploring every option.
The most consequential fact for Monday night is simple: unless Timber makes a rapid recovery or Calafiori is declared fit, Arsenal’s right-back choices will be limited, shaping both selection and game plan against Burnley. The club’s wider stability — including the timing of talks over a new deal with Arteta himself — hangs in the background as the manager scrambles to field the strongest possible side.
