BREAKING NEWS Six Arsenal players have been identified as potential replacements for 23-year-old defender Jurrien Timber, who is facing injury concerns ahead of the match against Southampton.

Mikel Arteta may need to replace Jurrien Timber for Arsenal’s upcoming match against Southampton, and he has six possible substitutes to consider.

Timber was substituted at halftime during Arsenal’s Champions League match against PSG after putting in a solid defensive performance, where he successfully contained PSG’s Bradley Barcola on the right flank. Jakub Kiwior replaced him in the second half.

When asked about Timber’s condition in the post-match press conference, Arteta was cautious but admitted the extent of the issue was unclear. Arteta praised Timber’s first-half performance but explained that the defender felt something in his muscle and didn’t want to risk further injury.

After spending a year recovering from injury, Timber has played more minutes than initially planned, and Arteta emphasized the need to monitor him closely to avoid aggravating his condition. Timber may need additional time to recover, especially with the recent international break.

Ben White missed Tuesday night’s game against PSG due to his absence from the final training session. White has been recovering from a knee injury, and while he missed the last three matches, he made a brief appearance against Manchester City to help secure Arsenal’s win. If White regains full fitness, Arteta could reintroduce him into the lineup.

If White remains unavailable, Arteta may stick with the approach used against PSG, where Riccardo Calafiori moved to the right side, and Kiwior replaced Timber. Calafiori demonstrated his versatility during the match, playing multiple positions effectively, a quality Arteta admired. Arteta commended Calafiori for his energy, bravery, and commitment in defense.

Another option for Arteta would be to deploy Thomas Partey as a right back, a strategy used last season when Gabriel was injured. Partey, along with William Saliba and White in the center-back roles, provided solid coverage in defense. Once Mikel Merino is fully fit, he and Declan Rice could anchor the midfield, freeing Partey to shift to right back if needed.

Other potential options include Josh Nichols, who, despite struggling in the Carabao Cup, could be called up. Josh Robinson, a center-back who can also play right back, might also feature. Finally, Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a viable candidate, pending his fitness.