For Jurrien Timber, the nine months of his ACL injury recovery had been about getting back on the pitch. Sources at the club marvelled at the dedication the Dutch international showed as he hit milestone after milestone on his journey back to fitness in perfect time.

Having finally made his way back though, there came another wait. Arsenal were in the home stretch of Premier League title race and with the stakes so high, Mikel Arteta could ill-afford to ease his much-missed summer signing back into things. Timber had to bide his time with the Under-21s before finally making his return on the final day of the season against Everton.

Having finally secured the aim he had working towards for the best part of a year though, Timber was forced to wait again. "In the beginning it was hard because you don't really want to have a break because I didn't play for the whole season," he says of the ill-timed end to the season. "So I was like, for me the next season could start already."

To make matters worse he was forced to watch on as his Dutch international teammates reached the latter stages of the Euros - a tournament the 23-year-old would undoubtedly have been at had he stayed fit. "To be honest, the first game was a bit difficult because then you realise you are not there and you always want to be there."

His Dutch teammates surprised many by reaching the semi finals of the tournament where they came up against his club compatriots Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka - who Timber admits he messaged on the eve of the game.

Now the wait does finally seem to be coming to an end. He's dripping with sweat as he comes over to talk following an intense training session under the beaming LA sun. Timber, and more importantly his knee, have come through unscathed - something that would have been improbable just a few months ago.

"I had an amazing break," he says. "A couple of weeks off and I had some time to start to get fit again but I obviously need it for my knee so I feel in a good place right now."

With focus on Arsenal's summer business rife, it could be argued that Timber fits the cliche of being like a new signing. In fact, you could say he's like two or three. The Dutchman is capable of playing anywhere along the back four - something he values as one of his biggest strengths.

"I have played everywhere in the back to be fair," he says. "Last pre-season I started a lot as a left-back and I enjoyed it as well so I am happy to play.

"I spoke about it with Ben White as well. I think it's good to be versatile just to play more positions. You're also able to get more minutes then I think and the coach can put you in more places, I think it's nice for him as well. And I'm just hoping to play anywhere."

The only thing it seems now that could prolong Timber's wait is the fierce competition for places in the Arsenal back line. Mikel Arteta has assembled a formidable defensive unit containing William Saliba, Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while the impending arrival of Riccardo Calafiori is set to bolster the unit only further.

It's an intimidating group to be competing with for a starting position. Timber doesn't see it that way, though.

"I think it's good," he says after greeting the notion of competition for places with a typically relaxed smile. "And it's good for the team. At the end of the day, you want to win prizes and you need everyone for that. So, I think it's fun and good for everyone to lift each other up."

Timber speaks as if he's a man looking to make up for lost time. Up against a Manchester City opponent where fine margins will make the difference, he'll hope his long-awaited return can get Arsenal over the line this time around.

Tickets are still available for Arsenal's pre-season clash with Manchester United at SoFi Stadium. You can purchase them here.

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