Arsenal reveal new major double injury update as pre-season begins | OneFootball

Good news for Gunners on day one as they return to training after break

Ben White has recovered from his knee injury for the start of Arsenal's pre-season preparations, while Jurrien Timber hopes to be "back soon".

White picked up the issue during the Gunners' Premier League win over West Ham in May, leaving the London Stadium in a brace.

The 28-year-old suffered a significant medial ligament injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the season as he then missed out on potential World Cup selection with England.

He was fit enough to be involved last week in a training camp in Marbella that some Arsenal players took part in and joined up with the squad for the official start of pre-season on Monday.

Asked how his summer had been as he arrived at the training ground, White responded: "I've been training every day, really.

"Knee's all good. Started training back with the team last week."

Recovery: Arsenal duo Ben White and Jurrien Timber both missed the end of last season through injury

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Timber was also present at London Colney, though he appears to be behind White in terms of his fitness.

The Dutchman missed more than two months last season with a groin injury suffered against Everton in March, returning only to feature off the bench in the Champions League final.

Timber was not fully fit for that game and he then withdrew from the Netherlands' squad ahead of the World Cup.

It was decided that the versatile defender had "not recovered sufficiently" from that injury.

While Timber was at Arsenal's training ground on Monday, he suggested that he was not yet ready to take part in full first-team training.

"Getting there slowly," Timber said. "Trying hard. Been rehabbing over the summer, hopefully back soon."

They then face Real Betis in Dublin four days later, before returning to north London to play Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup and Cesc Fabregas’ Como.

Reigning Premier League champions Arsenal face FA Cup holders Manchester City in the Community Shield in Cardiff on August 16, before beginning their title defence on Friday, August 21 against newly-promoted Coventry - managed by Frank Lampard - at the Emirates Stadium.