Jurrien Timber struck the ball into the upper right corner after eight minutes.
His Blackburn Under-21 opponents looked stunned. His youthful associates gazed in amazement.
The Dutch full back had injured his ACL ligament against Nottingham Forest on August 12; it had been 254 days since he had last played on a field.
Nobody could have predicted that it would take eight months for the 22-year-old to make a reappearance as he limped off the field during Arsenal’s opening Premier League encounter of the year.
Furthermore, not many anticipated that Timber, making his debut for the Arsenal Under-21s, would return with such grace.
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber scored a screamer on his return to action for the club’s U21s
Timber (third from right) made his first appearance in 254 days after recovering from an injury
Even though the academy usually uses numbers 1 through 11 for the line-up, he was wearing his normal number 12 shirt. Unique participants, unique actions.
On the box’s edge, he caught the ball. A jink to his right caused his body to open up, allowing him to launch a curling shot that went over the bar and into the net.
Not to mention the academy squad, it was a finish that would not have looked out of place in a first-team game during the championship run-in.
With this background, Timber’s goal was all the more remarkable and served as a reminder of why the Gunners have been so desperate to have their £38.5 million player back.
Timber’s first touch came one minute and five seconds earlier in the half. There was a round of applause.
The full back suffered ACL ligament damage against Nottingham Forest on August 12
After being forced off in Arsenal’s first game of the season, he missed eight months in totalHe began as a left back and quickly moved into forward positions from midfield, switching to a central position a la Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Timber glided forward faster than he should have. Under Mikel Arteta, that will likely be more tempered.
Timber often pressed into offensive positions and made himself available around the box. On minute 24, he had another attempt at goal, this time from outside the box, that was blocked for a corner.
Following the half hour, Timber progressively decelerated, returning to the tempo of a game. After such an extended break, this was anticipated.
There must be caution. After an eight-month injury layoff, Timber’s return to action is a start, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready to start for the first team just yet.
Timber was substituted at half-time against Blackburn after a return that will excite supportersAlthough there will be a strong desire to have him back as soon as possible, his reintroduction must be handled cautiously. It was a smart move to substitute him at halftime because the season is almost over and there is no rush.
It is evident why the North London club is excited about his complete comeback.
All you need to do is glance at the back left slot. Takehiro Tomiyasu is now their strongest defensive option, although he is prone to injuries. Jakub Kiwior has improved over the season, but he still has room for improvement. Oleksandr Zinchenko is good at moving the ball forward but may be vulnerable in defensive situations.
A fit Timber easily makes the starting lineup.
Indeed, it was an extremely thrilling comeback that offered hints as to why the Gunners are looking forward to his complete comeback; however, more runouts are required before Timber can be used effectively.