Arsenal's Jurrien Timber to Miss Carabao Cup Match Against Ipswich

Arsenal will take no risks with Jurrien Timber, with the defender set to sit out Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie against Ipswich Town despite making his long-awaited return at the weekend.

The Netherlands international stepped back onto the pitch in the Premier League win over Sunderland on Saturday, coming off the bench to replace Ben White after the right-back suffered a muscular problem in the first half. It was Timber’s first appearance of the season after a lengthy spell out with a groin issue.

The temptation to build on that comeback quickly is obvious. Arsenal are resisting it.

Timber is expected to be left out of the squad entirely for the Ipswich clash, a move described as purely precautionary rather than a reaction to any setback. There is no suggestion of fresh trouble with the groin problem that sidelined him for so long, but the club want to manage his workload carefully and ease him back towards full sharpness.

Mikel Arteta is also poised to rotate elsewhere, with several senior players in line for a rest as Arsenal juggle cup commitments with their league campaign.

White, meanwhile, has undergone a scan after pulling up at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal have yet to confirm the severity of his injury, but the defender is expected to miss the meeting with Gary O’Neil’s side as the club wait for a clearer picture of how long he will be out.