Arsenal are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday evening in Hungary, with Mikel Arteta’s squad making the trip on Thursday afternoon.
Jurrien Timber has provided Arsenal with a significant boost after returning to training following a lengthy spell out with a groin injury.
The Netherlands international suffered the groin problem during Arsenal’s win over Everton back in March, ruling him out for 14 games across all competitions.
Having come through training sessions this week, Timber was part of the squad that boarded the flight to Hungary on Thursday afternoon.
It remains unclear at this stage whether Timber will be named in the matchday squad when Arsenal face PSG on Saturday evening.
However, his presence on the travelling flight means he is now in contention to feature in the final against the French club.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Timber is the only player in world football capable of keeping PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet in the final.
“We have this really unique situation,” Keown told football.london, with the final set to be broadcast exclusively on TNT Sports and discovery+.
“I watched his tussle with Kvaratskhelia last season. I thought he had quite a titanic battle, didn’t he, with Timber, Kvaratskhelia? He’s maybe the one player in world football who can handle him, so I think it’s because of that he’s been given a bit more time.”
Keown continued to highlight the challenge facing Arsenal defensively, pointing to the threat posed by PSG’s wide players throughout the match.
“Ordinarily, somebody who’s been out that long, you’d say, ‘okay, it’s too late’, because he hasn’t played for 14 games. But he’s quite a unique player. His mobility and the way that he’s able to pinch the ball, and he’s very aggressive and very much a contact defender.”
Keown added: “Their two wingers are really aggressive, the way they take a game to you, and you have to be able to match that. So those match-ups are really interesting.”
Among the other players pictured boarding the flight were Declan Rice, Ben White, David Raya, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, and Viktor Gyokeres.
Also travelling were Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, William Saliba, Tommy Setford, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
