Jurrien Timber has been absent from group training sessions with the Netherlands during the international break, raising fresh concerns at Arsenal over the defender's fitness heading into the second phase of the season.

The news arrives at a difficult moment for Arsenal, who are already stretched at right-back following a series of injury setbacks across the squad. Timber only recently returned to Premier League action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and he was left out of Arsenal's Carabao Cup match at Ipswich Town last week as part of a cautious comeback plan.

A modified training schedule

According to a report by Voetbal International, Arsenal have been in contact with Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez to arrange an individual programme for Timber, keeping the defender away from full group sessions. That arrangement strongly indicates Timber will not feature against Germany this week.

His last appearance came in the Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, where he completed an hour before being withdrawn — a match in which Declan Rice was deployed at right-back to cover for him.

Rice, however, has since been ruled out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad through injury, leaving Arsenal with very limited options in that position.

Arsenal's right-back crisis deepens

The situation at right-back has grown increasingly complicated. Ben White, who had been filling in at that position, picked up an injury just before the international break. Cristian Mosquera remains sidelined with a knee problem, and William Saliba's back injury has forced new signing Ezri Konsa into an exclusively central defensive role since his summer arrival.

Bruno Guimaraes has also endured a slow start to life at Arsenal after sustaining a knock in the opening Premier League match of the season at home to Coventry City.

Despite the injury headaches, Arsenal collected 12 points from 15 before the break — their only dropped points coming in Saturday's defeat at the Amex Stadium against Brighton & Hove Albion. The three-week international window now gives manager Mikel Arteta a critical opportunity to restore his squad's fitness.

Timber, valued at €65 million according to Transfermarkt, will be central to Arsenal's ambitions when Premier League football resumes with a home fixture against Leeds United.