Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba ahead of the final Premier League game of the season against Southampton on Sunday.
The Gunners head into the final weekend in second place in the Premier League table after collecting 71 points from 37 matches.
Last weekend, Arsenal sealed Champions League qualification with a narrow 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium.
The North London club will look to wrap up a third consecutive runners-up finish in Sunday’s meeting with relegated Southampton at St Mary’s.
However, the Gunners will be unable to call upon their first-choice central defensive pairing for the trip to the South Coast.
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Arteta delivers Timber, Saliba injury updates
Jurrien Timber recently underwent surgery to resolve a persistent ankle issue that has been bothering him in recent weeks.
Arteta explained the decision for Timber to go under the knife when he spoke to reporters in Thursday’s pre-match press conference.
“Jurrien had surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle,” Arteta said. “He’s been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks. He’s been navigating through the season with that issue, and it needed to be resolved, so he’s going to be out for a while.”
When pressed about the length of Timber’s recovery, the Arsenal boss replied: “We don’t know yet. It will depend on how the recovery goes.
“It will be weeks, but we don’t know exactly how much. Hopefully, it will be somewhere near the pre-season, if everything goes well, but we don’t know yet.
Meanwhile, Timber’s central defensive partner, Saliba, faces a spell in the treatment room after he picked up an injury in the recent win over Newcastle.
“And Saliba, he felt something in his hamstring in the first half [against Newcastle], just before half-time. And again, he’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
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Arteta sets out Partey contract stance
Away from Arsenal’s injury situation, Arteta addressed the uncertainty surrounding Thomas Partey‘s future with the club.
Partey is out of contract at the end of June, and is yet to reach an agreement over a new deal to extend his stay with the Gunners.
When asked whether he wanted Partey to sign a new contract, Arteta replied: “Yeah.”
The Arsenal boss also said: “In regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it’s been his best season. I think the way he’s played, performed, his availability has been exceptional, and he’s a really important player for us.”
Partey, who joined Arsenal in 2020, has been a regular fixture in the side this season, having started 44 of his 51 competitive appearances, chipping in with four goals and three assists.
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