Arteta hoping Timber will win fitness race for Champions League final

Mikel Arteta is crossing his fingers that Jurriën Timber will have a chance of facing Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final as he weighs up his options at right-back.

Arsenal confirmed on Tuesday that Ben White would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury that is expected to rule him out of the World Cup, although Arteta said the defender must “wait and see” regarding the summer . Timber has not played since Arsenal’s win over Everton on 14 March owing to a groin issue. The Netherlands defender is understood to have been close to returning at the end of last month before experiencing a setback.

Cristhian Mosquera is expected to fill in against Burnley on Monday night, although Riccardo Calafiori, who went off injured last Sunday at West Ham but is back in training, could be an option after he played at right-back in the second half of Arsenal’s win over PSG in last year’s league stage. Arteta is hoping Timber, one of his most consistent performers this season, could be in contention for the final on 27 May as Arsenal prepare for the prospect of facing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in Budapest.

“He’s progressed a little bit in the last few days; he’s feeling better,” the Arsenal manager said. “We’re going to try to get him available as quickly as possible but he’s obviously been out now for a while, unfortunately. He’s such an important player for us. We all know that. He’s doing everything that he possibly can to help the team in any capacity. His leadership, his quality and how much the team needs him.”

Arteta, asked whether there was a chance Timber could face PSG, said: “There is a chance. But how big that chance is, I cannot tell you. I’m being completely honest. He’s going to try to do everything he can to convert that chance as high as possible in the shortest possible period.”

The Arsenal supporters’ group REDaction is again planning to welcome the team coach before the game against Burnley on Monday, when Arteta’s side could re-establish a five-point lead over Manchester City. Thousands of fans turned out before the Champions League semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid and Arteta, who revealed he did not watch because he was at a sponsors’ event, said it had inspired his players.