Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has admitted he still has to deal with stiffness from an injury picked up in September, with the Gunners heavy schedule still something he’s adapting to.
Voetbal Zone cover comments from the defender today in which he insists everything feels good so far despite the occasional soreness.
Timber is still working his way back to full fitness and establishing himself in Arsenal’s team this season after missing the entirety of his first year with the club with a cruciate ligament tear.
That saw him spend 252 days on the treatment table and miss 53 games for club and country last season before returning in April.
It’s been a steady build up from that point and he’s been a regular for Arsenal this season, with 13 appearances in all competitions so far and a starting place in eight of the nine league games in which he’s been in the squad.
He missed two games against Southampton and Bournemouth with an unspecified injury picked up at the end of September, something that also saw him miss games against Shakhtar Donetsk, Bolton and Hungary and Germany for the Netherlands.
The Arsenal man now admits that’s still bothering him months on, even if his body is feeling fine in general after his long layoff.
“That’s still somewhat the case,” he said when asked about stiffness in his right leg.
“I had an injury that lasted three to four weeks at the beginning of October. Then I had to play against Liverpool straight away. It’s been basically non-stop since then.
“So, it makes sense that your body has to adapt to this. But I’m doing well, my body feels good. The fact that there are so many competitions is tough for everyone. For me – someone who has had a cruciate ligament injury – it is actually still my first season, so it is very normal.
“Do I really see it that way, that this is my first year? That I play in the Premier League, yes. Of course, I only played one league match before my injury. Things are going well, the body feels good, and I feel fit. I’m happy to be back.”
