Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Jurrien Timber will be back before the end of the season.

The Gunners’ £38million summer signing has been out of action since August after injuring his ACL in the opening Premier League game of the campaign and undergoing surgery.

Arteta has now said the defender is “doing really well” and will start to do some work with the rest of the squad soon.

Asked if Timber could return before the end of the season, Arteta said on Friday: “I really hope so.

“He’s doing really well. He’s been with some players on the pitch. He’s going to start to do some bits with us on the pitch in the next week or so.

“Then we’ll have to see how he’s doing, his confidence level, his fitness level. Hopefully the answer will be yes.”

Arteta has previously spoken about his frustration around Timber’s injury because he would have offered Arsenal “versatility” in defence.

The Dutchman is able to play anywhere across the backline and there were plans for him to invert from right-back into midfield.

“It was a huge blow,” said Arteta, when asked in January about Timber’s injury.

“Everyone could see from day one what he was going to bring to the team.

“The versatility, the quality, the leadership. And an ability that we did not have in the backline. It was a huge blow.”