Ethan Nwaneri gives perfect response to Jurrien Timber amid Arsenal injury concerns

Jurrien Timber has been sent a perfect Arsenal message by Ethan Nwaneri with injury concerns recently emerging over the defender.

Ethan Nwaneri has responded to a Jurrien Timber message after Arsenal sealed a spot in the Carabao Cup final. The Gunners beat Chelsea 4-2 over two legs with Timber playing the full 180 minutes having proved his versatility in the competition.

The Netherlands international played on both defensive flanks against the Blues and even made a brief cameo at centre-back against Brighton. Nwaneri scored in that 2-0 victory over the Seagulls back in October, with that one of his final starts before heading out on loan to Marseille in January.

It has been a mixed first three games at the French club for Nwaneri with a debut goal followed up by Marseille letting a two-goal lead slip against Paris FC before he was very nearly sent off in the 3-0 win over Rennes. Nevertheless, it seems he is keeping an eye on all things Arsenal - and was fond of their semi-final triumph.

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Nwaneri replied to Timber's Instagram post in reference to the Chelsea victory with a red heart. Timber had wrote as the caption: "Big fight, big win... fans amazing! Wembley soon," with Max Dowman also in the comments.

The latter has missed the last few months with injury and was Arsenal's only star unavailable ahead of the Leeds United clash. That has changed very quickly, however, with Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard picking up injuries.

That duo were unsurprisingly absent from Arsenal open training on Thursday, but it was certainly a shock that Timber was also not out on the grass at London Colney ahead of the Premier League clash against Sunderland.

Load management is the most likely reason for him not being out there, but it is entirely possible injury was the reason with the 24-year-old playing considerable minutes over the last few weeks.

If Timber does miss a period of action, Ben White is a more than capable replacement, but Arteta will be hoping that he does not have to call on the Englishmen too regularly. When Timber was filling in at left-back, White started three games in seven days which resulted in a hamstring injury being suffered.

White will likely be utilised over the coming weeks though, given the hectic fixture schedule that now awaits due to their Carabao Cup final participation.

Following Sunderland's visit to Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Arsenal travel to Brentford next Thursday before returning to north London for an FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic.

Arsenal were due to have a free midweek after that, but their match away to Wolves - which was initially on Carabao Cup final weekend - has now been brought forward by nearly a month.

A North London Derby at Tottenham is on their schedule the following weekend before another clash against a bitter rival kicks off March as they host Chelsea.