Sounds like the Timber early return stuff is overblown unless Arteta is being overly coy.

19 days later

HomeSteak No, but we can really need him to be back [gestures expensively] this much.

Besides that's the squad for the whole second half of the season. Maybe he throws in a match-winning block after coming on as a sub in extra time of the final (and does his other ACL in the process no doubt!)

    HomeSteak think we're about as likely to see him in the CL as we are Casey, Butler-Oyedeji, Cooper, Jeffcott, Graczyk, Gower etc.

      If Timber steps foot on to a pitch for us this season it would automatically be my favourite moment of the season. Love this player.

      21 days later

      Would be great to have him back at some point in March.

      If nothing else, it will be good that he will be fully back up to speed for the start of next season.

      DiabyKungFu

      GET IN

      Gettting in this guy for the run in is like the anti-Saliba injury last season, it’s a good fucking omen/sign.

        18 days later

        Great news if it’s actually true this time!

        He has been in training for a while now to be fair. Wouldn’t be surprised if he plays in a behind closed doors friendly during the break.

        Not counting on him to play a significant role this season but hopefully he can get match sharp over the next few months with a few sub appearances here and there. Maybe a cheeky start or two. Then be ready to go next season at full capacity.

        He shouldn't play any important role this season , maybe a few sub appearances in games we are comfortably in the lead or something. The injury he had means he can't walk into a game with the kind of intensity needed to make a meaningful contribution. He needs a good few weeks of gradual match play before we give him any serious minutes

        Was excellent in pre season but there are some doubts in my mind with him. Obvious one being any long term deterioration due to the injury.

        Other thing playing on my mind is he still a fit for the style? We appear to have made a conscious move away from more technical defenders to having giant athletes who can play to instruction so well.

        I reckon we'll see him sometime in April.

        10 days later

        He said a game or two with the U21s. But he also added that getting match fit and sharp is often the most difficult part and may take more time and that he's going to be careful with Timber. So it's probably still going to take some time before we see Timber in our match-day squad.

          16 days later

          Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert Such a shame. We'd have been sooo much better on the left of the pitch, and Saka and Odegaard wouldn't be so broken by now.

          Guy might be a great buy eventually, but absolutely nothing in that video made me say wow. Even the music disappearing, which is usually a good thing, was underwhelming because it soon enough returned midway through.

          From a defensive point of view, his tackling technique (especially in the first few minutes) leaves a lot to be desired. Square on, leg outstretched, great if it comes off, Xhakaesque if it doesn't.

          But at least he's there and not another Oleksander "missing in action" Zinchenko.

            Cannot wait until he's back playing for the first team. Hard to imagine how much we lost this year without having him.

            Came to post the goal. Incredible. You can understand why Arteta said this in February

            "First of all, his leadership, his versatility, the quality that he has to play in different positions, especially in an attacking phase, the spaces that he can occupy and certain qualities that nobody else in the squad has to do that. As you could tell he was fitting in; he’s really liked around the boys, and he’s been a big miss."