Arsenal confirm double defensive injury blow as star man sent for surgery

Arsenal face relegated Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba will miss Arsenal’s final game of the season through injury.

Full-back Timber was absent from the matchday squad for Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday, and Mikel Arteta has now confirmed the Dutchman has undergone ankle surgery .

He will thus play no part in the Gunners’ trip to Southampton this Sunday, along with centre-half Saliba, who was forced off at half-time against Newcastle with a hamstring problem.

Speaking to beIN Sports on Wednesday, Arteta confirmed: “William is going to be out for a few weeks, unfortunately. He pulled his hamstring against Newcastle, so he's going to be out for a few weeks.

“Jurrien had surgery yesterday on his ankle, so he'll be out for a few weeks as well.”

Arteta was quick to play down the detriment of this latest setback for Timber, citing just how impactful he has been since returning from could have been a tenure-defining ACL injury.

“With Jurrien, you understand that he was coming back from an ACL one year out, and to have this season after an ACL, it's incredible,” he continued. “We didn't sign a player, we signed a leader, a very, very special character.”

Arsenal will secure second spot in the Premier League by avoiding defeat to bottom-placed Southampton.

Manchester City could take advantage of an Arsenal defeat and finish runners-up to Liverpool by winning at Fulham, although they would need an eight-goal swing to do so.