On Monday, eight minutes after making his return to action, Jurrien Timber struck an outstanding goal for Arsenal’s Under-21s against Blackburn Rovers. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament ιnjury sidelined the 22-year-old for the first time in eight months prior to his season-opening match against Nottingham Forest.

It has been a long road back for the defender since his transfer from Holland to the club last summer, but he quickly recovered. Timber, advancing from the left flank, converted a superb arching shot towards the boundary of the box using his preferred right foot, thereby granting his side the advantage.

Timber, along with fellow first-team candidates Ethan Nwanersi and Myles Lewis-Skelly, commenced the match at the outset. The Dutchman, who played a left-back position, had been migrating infield, similar to how Mikel Arteta’s full-backs operate; this is the same position that Oleksandr Zinchenko has occupied over the last two years.

However, he obtained the ball in an advanced wide position for the goal, and after a deft touch and a turn away from the target, he executed a body pirouette to shoot high into the upper right corner. Having been sidelined since August, his return to action on the field was anything but routine.

Timber has been engaged in ball-related exercises at the Sobha Realty Training Complex for more than one month, beginning during the January winter holiday. However, it is still premature to consider a re-entry into the Premier League.

Arteta responded, “That’s a quick step!” when asked whether he could start against Tottenham on the weekend. “Today, we will observe how he feels. He has been diligently training and appears to be prepared.

“He requires that exposure; thereafter, we will determine whether that game arrives too quickly or too soon.” We shall make every effort to involve him in our final contests.

Timber will once again be absent from Tuesday’s match against Chelsea at Arsenal, but his goal at Ewood Park serves as a constant reminder of his caliber. Timber, brimming with self-assurance following his spectacular strike against Blackburn, was enticed to attempt another long-range shot later in the half.