Jurrien Timber has travelled back to London from Arsenal's pre-season training camp in Spain, but the club insists the trip is part of his rehabilitation schedule and not a sign of fresh trouble (BBC Sport).

The Netherlands defender has been dealing with a groin injury and is expected to rejoin Mikel Arteta's squad in Spain once the next stage of his recovery is complete (BBC Sport).

For Arsenal supporters, the word "injury" next to Timber's name will always carry a particular weight. He joined the club from Ajax in July 2023 for an initial fee of £34 million, then tore his anterior cruciate ligament — the ligament that stabilises the knee — in his first competitive appearance and missed almost the entirety of that debut season (BBC Sport).

Since fighting his way back, Timber has established himself as Arsenal's first-choice right-back. His absence, however brief, matters because of how central he has become to the way Arteta's team plays.

Groin issues have been a recurring thread for Arsenal of late. Timber and forward Kai Havertz picked up similar injuries at the same point earlier this year, with both missing a midweek trip to Madrid as a result (Arsenal.com). That pattern will be something the club's medical staff are monitoring closely through pre-season.

The calendar does not wait. Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on 16 August, a 15:00 BST kick-off that serves as the traditional curtain-raiser for the English football season (BBC Sport). Whether Timber is fit to start that afternoon at Wembley is one of the questions Arteta will need to answer sooner rather than later.

For now, the message from inside the camp is steady: this is rehab, not relapse. Timber is expected back in Spain, and the plan is for him to continue building towards the new campaign with his team-mates.