Fans at the Emirates Stadium on December 27, 2025, were left scratching their heads as Jurrien Timber was a surprise omission from Arsenal's matchday squad for their crucial Premier League clash against Brighton & Hove Albion. The Dutch defender, who has been a mainstay in the Gunners' backline this season, was even seen arriving at the ground with his teammates, fueling speculation about his potential involvement. But as the team sheets dropped, Timber's name was nowhere to be found—not even among the substitutes.
Manager Mikel Arteta was quick to address the growing curiosity ahead of kickoff. "We missed him because in the last part of the [Palace] game [on Tuesday], he felt something and could not carry on, so he's out," Arteta explained to Sky Sports News. The injury Timber picked up occurred late in Arsenal's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace on December 23, a match in which he played the full 90 minutes and confidently converted his penalty in the shootout. Arsenal edged past Palace after a 1-1 draw in regulation, but the victory came at a cost.
This setback for Timber couldn't have come at a more challenging time for the North London club. With Ben White also sidelined—reportedly due to a hamstring issue—Arteta found himself without a recognized right-back in the squad. The domino effect was immediately felt in the starting lineup, as midfielder Declan Rice was deployed at right-back, a position he hadn't played since an 11-minute stint for West Ham back in 2017. The move was a clear indication of Arsenal's current injury crisis, particularly in defense.
Former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere, speaking last month, had nothing but praise for Timber, calling him "the best right-back in the world." Aliadiere told aceodds.com, "When he first joined the club, I thought he was a good signing, and then he got injured straight away. I worried if his Arsenal career was over because I know how tough it is to come back from such a big injury. But he's been great since he got back, and I know a lot of people prefer their full-backs to attack, but for me, he's good at attacking, but he's also strong at defending. He rarely gets beaten in a 1 vs 1, and he makes the right choice on the ball. When it comes to physical and technical ability, and then his decision making, I don't think there's anyone better."
Timber's absence was felt all the more because, prior to the Brighton fixture, he had featured in all 17 of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season. His consistency and quality had become vital to Arteta's setup, and his ability to balance defense and attack provided much-needed stability on the right flank. With the Gunners set to play 13 matches in the next 43 days, the importance of squad rotation and keeping key players fit has never been clearer.
Adding to Arsenal's defensive headaches, Riccardo Calafiori, who was initially named to start at left-back, had to be replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly after picking up a knock during warm-ups. The Italian's late withdrawal meant further reshuffling for Arteta, who had already been forced to start Piero Hincapie—recently recovered from a shoulder injury sustained against Everton—alongside William Saliba in central defense.
Gabriel Magalhaes, another key defender, made his return to the bench after a six-week layoff following an injury picked up during the November international break. Arteta had addressed Gabriel's situation earlier in the week, saying, "We have to wait and see. He hasn't trained yet, so he's still doing his rehab. But hopefully as quickly as possible [he can be back], because we know the situation now we have in the backline." The Brazilian's presence on the bench offered a glimmer of hope for defensive reinforcements in the coming weeks.
Arsenal's starting XI for the Brighton clash was as follows: David Raya in goal; William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, and Riccardo Calafiori (later replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly) in defense; Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino in midfield; with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres leading the attack. The bench featured the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Ethan Nwaneri, and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Brighton, managed by Fabian Hurzeler, presented a formidable challenge. Arteta acknowledged as much before the game, stating, "It's a club that I admire a lot and what they've done over the last 10 years is incredible. They have different managers and now Fabian has come in and brought some very different ideas as well. A lot of energy, a really, really committed team and look very, very together. A lot of quality. They can play in different ways. They have versatile players. So it's going to be a tough match."
Meanwhile, Arsenal's injury woes extended beyond the defense. Kai Havertz, who has missed most of the season due to a knee injury, was also unavailable for the Brighton game. Arteta offered an update, saying, "I think it will be a matter of days, if not weeks. Let's see in the next step how he responds to that. He's a player that we missed a lot, a player that brings the team into a different dimension. So, I'm really happy to have him back very soon." Gabriel Martinelli, who had been substituted after a knee clash in the Palace game, was declared fit and took his place on the bench.
Arsenal entered the Brighton fixture needing all three points to reclaim top spot in the Premier League from Manchester City, who had earlier secured a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest. The pressure was on, especially with such a patched-up defense and a demanding fixture schedule looming. The Gunners' ability to adapt, rotate, and rely on squad depth would be tested to the limit in the coming weeks.
As the match kicked off, the Emirates crowd watched closely to see how the reconfigured Arsenal defense would cope against a Brighton side known for their energy and tactical flexibility. With Declan Rice operating out of position and several other key players either absent or just returning from injury, it was always going to be a stern examination of Arsenal's title credentials and Arteta's tactical ingenuity.
While the outcome of the match was yet to be decided at press time, one thing was clear: Arsenal's campaign has entered a critical phase, with injuries forcing unexpected changes and new heroes needing to step up. The Gunners' resilience and squad unity will be under the microscope as they navigate a packed winter schedule and continue their pursuit of Premier League glory.
