Jurrien Timber Fit to Start for Arsenal Line Up Today in Final
Arsenal line up today has Jurrien Timber fit to start Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris St-Germain. That gives Mikel Arteta a working solution at right-back after Ben White was ruled out with a knee ligament injury.
Timber Returns For Arteta
Arteta said Timber is available despite the defender not having played for Arsenal since March. He last featured after sustaining a groin injury in the win over Everton, and his return comes at the sharp end of a one-off final in Budapest.
The manager also said Noni Madueke is available for selection after coming off with a hamstring issue against Crystal Palace last weekend. For Arsenal, that adds another option as they build a final-day squad around the players who are fit enough to start.
Right-Back Cover At Arsenal
White’s absence is the complication inside Arsenal’s selection picture. Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice have all deputised at right-back this season, but Timber’s fitness gives Arteta a more natural choice for the role.
That matters because this is the sort of game where one adjustment can shape the whole plan. Arsenal face Paris St-Germain in the final after PSG beat them in the semi-finals last year, and Arteta framed the task bluntly: “They are defending the trophy and they are the champions and we are here to take that away from them”.
Budapest Final Pressure
PSG are trying to become only the second team to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era, which leaves Arsenal trying to stop that run in one match. Arteta said the club’s ambition is not limited to what it has already won: “No, the ambition is bigger, we have one [trophy] and we want the second one”.
The setting is already building pressure around the final in Budapest, where police expect at least 10,000 ticketless fans and airport traffic is expected to almost double to around 85,000 visitors over the weekend. Arsenal know their lineup now has a cleaner shape, and Timber’s return should narrow the uncertainty before kickoff.
