Timber back on the grass + Dutch striker linked

Morning all, joyful Friday to you.

It’s nonetheless very quiet, however there are just a few bits and items we will give attention to this morning. First up, Jurrien Timber’s rehab from his ACL harm continues, and he’s made a giant step ahead by being again out on the grass and coaching with the ball. Clearly that’s a really optimistic improvement, however I’d say there’s nonetheless some approach to go earlier than we see him in competition for a primary group place.

I do know there’s all the time this factor with injured gamers, notably throughout a tough spell of kind for a group, the place their high quality will increase in direct proportion with the size of their absence. Nonetheless, he would unquestionably have been an actual asset within the first half of the season, and though it’s prone to take some weeks but to get him near being prepared, he may nonetheless play an element within the remaining a part of the marketing campaign. He would possibly return and be rusty, or he would possibly come again with contemporary legs and an enormous need to play an element having missed a lot of his debut marketing campaign with Arsenal. Let’s hope it’s the latter.

We additionally noticed Gabriel Jesus coaching, which has alleviated some worries I held once I heard in regards to the knock he’d picked up forward of the Liverpool recreation. When it was the identical knee and so they noticed one thing on a scan, I used to be fairly anxious about it, however fingers crossed it’s nothing critical. The actual fact he’s on the market on the coaching pitch suggests we will loosen up a little bit bit. Not utterly, however a bit.

Fabio Vieira, one thing of a forgotten man of this season, is on the market too, as is Thomas Partey, however particulars of their potential return dates are nonetheless a bit imprecise. Nonetheless, if these two return, with Takehiro Tomiyasu again in a few weeks from the Asian Cup (which kicks off for Japan in a few days), and Timber a bit additional down the road, we may have a a lot stronger wanting squad as issues warmth up domestically and in Europe.

Whether or not or not we add to it in January stays to be seen. I feel we would do one thing, I’m simply not fairly positive what or when, however anybody anticipating a giant cash signing or a giant identify arrival this month is prone to be disillusioned – except one thing extraordinary occurs.

I assumed this was fascinating from Sam Dean in The Telegraph, a hyperlink to 22 12 months previous Netherlands ahead Joshua Zirkzee:

Arsenal are admirers of Joshua Zirkzee and are retaining an in depth eye on the 22-year-old striker. Bologna are believed to need round £50m so, because it stands, a January transfer is considered unlikely. One to look at. Story with @JBurtTelegraph #AFC https://t.co/CgZh1Rd8EW

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) January 11, 2024

I don’t know an awesome deal about him to be trustworthy, however my intestine feeling with regards to a striker arrival is that this profile of participant is more likely than Arsenal shelling out £100m+ for somebody like Victor Osimhen, or a £70-80m summer season splurge on a 28 12 months Ivan Toney. That is based mostly on no inside info in any way by the best way, simply my very own opinion that we’ll attempt to herald a participant who can grow to be that type of striker, quite than the completed article. I might be utterly unsuitable, however I additionally suppose there are different issues we’ll need to do that summer season, and splashing a big share of the funds on one participant would possibly nicely have an effect on that. Time will inform!

Lastly for immediately, there was a little bit of January switch window motion with Arsenal Ladies signing USA international defender Emily Fox – information delivered to you first by Tim again in December. There’s additionally a departure with Kathrine Kuhl joining Everton on loan for the remainder of the season.

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Proper, let’s depart it there. Beneath you’ll discover an Arsecast recording yesterday night with Ryan Hunn of Stadio, all of the hyperlinks you could pay attention/subscribe are there. Have an awesome Friday everybody.