Arsenal: Jurrien Timber named in Netherlands squad ahead of Carabao Cup final amid Mikel Arteta update | OneFootball

Gunners star missed the win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night

Timber missed Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 second leg win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek after limping off during the first half against Everton last weekend.

The defender’s absence has raised doubts over his involvement in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, with Mikel Arteta delivering a rather vague update on Timber and captain Martin Odegaard in the pre-match press conference.

“We have another session tomorrow, so let's see if they can make it.”

While Arteta appears to be keeping the injury situation under wraps, the Holland announcement on Friday would suggest Timber’s knock is not too serious and that he is on course to be available for selection this weekend.

Timber has been named in Holland’s 26-man squad for pre-World Cup friendlies against Norway and Ecuador on March 27 and March 31 respectively.

Arsenal will definitely remain without Mikel Merino, who is sidelined for a period of months after undergoing surgery on a rare and serious foot injury in February.

The Arsenal team to face Man City will be announced at 3.15pm GMT, ahead of the 4.30pm kick-off at Wembley Stadium.

Victory for the Gunners would see them lift their first piece of silverware since the FA Cup in 2020 when they beat City in the semi-final en route to defeating London rivals Chelsea in the final.

Arsenal have not tasted defeat to City since April 2023, but did lose the last time the two sides contested a Carabao Cup final back in February 2018.