Arsenal: Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel and Jurrien Timber injury update as 'niggle' confirmed | OneFootball

Gunners will be cautious with defenders after both underwent surgery last season

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Mikel Arteta said Arsenal will “minimise the risk” with Gabriel’s recovery from injury after he and Jurrien Timber were left out of the pre-season win over AC Milan.

The Brazilian has been back in training and played 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford last weekend, but has since picked up a small issue in training.

He did not play any part in Singapore on Wednesday as the Gunners beat Milan 1-0, with Bukayo Saka scoring the only goal of the match.

Explaining that decision, the Arsenal boss made it clear that he will be cautious with Gabriel to avoid any setbacks in his recovery.

“Gabby had a little niggle the other day in training,” Arteta said.

“Because the fact that he has been out so long as well we have to manage him.

“We have been in Spain, different pitch, different conditions, go to the UK, different ones, come here, again a lot of changes. We have to minimise the risk with him.”

Timber, meanwhile, had surgery on his ankle in May and is not yet ready to return to full first-team sessions.

“With Jurrien he is still not there,” Arteta said. “He is still not fully training yet with us.”

The news was more positive for Kai Havertz, who led the line in Singapore.

The Germany missed three months of last season with a hamstring injury after requiring surgery and only returned in time to make two cameos off the bench in the final of the season.

Arteta at the time hailed Havertz for the work he put in during his recovery and the Arsenal boss was full of praise for his performance against Milan.

“He's in a very good place,” Arteta said.

“I think the game he had he was in three of four times completely free and the ball didn't arrive to him. The work-rate which he offers to the team is top.

“He scored the other day against Watford and was very close a couple of times as well. Overall very happy with him.”