Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is already preparing for life without new boy Jurrien Timber who sustained a serious knee injury in their season opener on Saturday, August 12, 2023.

Timber joined the Gunners from Eredivisie side Ajax in July for £ 38.5 million. Still, his start to life in North London has not been desirable as he tore his anterior cruciate ligament while making his debut in a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

“It is a huge blow, especially for him after just joining the club. We recruited him with clear intentions, and what he was bringing to the team was evident,” Arteta said.

Reports indicate that the 22-year-old Dutch centre-half could be out for up to eight months with Arteta now pondering his next move before the transfer window closes.

With a depleted defence department, Arteta has hinted that the club may be forced to go into the market in search of extra defensive cover.

‘I’m thinking more about the resources in the team to do what we want to do. But it’s true, he was giving us a lot on both sides,” the Spaniard said.

 Another defender, Oleksandr Zinchenko, has been sidelined since May due to an injury. He however continues to work on his return, which is good news to the Arsenal camp.

Arteta had previously said that the club did not plan to sign any other player during this window unless something extraordinary happened.

The Gunners had already roped Jurrien Timber (Ajax), midfielders Kai Havertz (Chelsea), and Declan Rice (West Ham) and were almost snapping up goalkeeper David Raya from Brentford.

“At the moment we are not planning to do anything. We are happy with what we have got,” Arteta said a few days before the Forest game.

Raya has already sealed his move to the Emirates, providing competition to Aaron Ramsdale who has been Arsenal’s undisputed number one goalkeeper since signing from Sheffield United in August 2021.