Mikel Arteta provides injury update on Arsenal duo after win over AC Milan and praises youngsters | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says defender Jurrien Timber is still not involved in full team training after missing the pre-season friendly win over AC Milan.

Timber underwent ankle surgery near the end of last season and is still working his way back to fitness.

Fellow defender Gabriel also missed the 1-0 win after picking up a “niggle” in training, Gunners boss Arteta said, with the Brazilian missing the end of the last campaign with a hamstring injury.

“Jurrien is still not there,” Arteta said.

“He’s not fully training yet with us.

“Gabriel had a niggle the other day in training and because of the fact he’s been out for so long as well, we have to manage him.

“We’ve been in Spain with a different pitch, different conditions, go back to the UK with different ones, come here and again a lot of changes.

“We have to minimise the risk with him.”

Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game in Singapore as Arsenal got their pre-season tour of Asia off to a winning start.

Several teenagers, including 15-year-old Max Dowman, also featured against the Italian side and Arteta says he was delighted with their impact.

“I’m very happy with all the kids,” he said.

“I think they are able to play at that level at 15-years-old in my opinion because of the environment and the culture that is within the team.

“When somebody makes you feel so comfortable, so confident straight away, you can go and do it. At least it gives you the best chance, then you have to have the qualities these kids have to deliver against opposition like this.”

Asked if the plan is to give Dowman more first-team minutes next season, Arteta responded: “We don’t know.

“With all the young kids, they are in and around the team constantly and they are really getting used to the dynamic, the demands, and especially raising the physical levels because to perform and impact at the game at that level demands a really high physical standard.

“They are getting there and that gives them a good platform. Then they will have to earn it.”

Arteta also praised 18-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who featured in a more central position against Milan.

“Those kids come back from the summer and they look different already,” he said. “They look more mature, they have a better presence, and Ethan certainly has been training really hard.

“He only had a couple of training sessions with us so for him just to be able to play 45 minutes, is a really positive thing. Really happy with all of them.”