Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber hopes he can slot into the team when he returns to action.

The right-back, who can also play in central defense, has been absent nearly all season.

Timber suffered an injury on the opening day of the Premier League, but attends every home game and is a regular at team meetings.

"The thing I was thinking about when I first got injured was just to take the positives out of it and to keep trying to be involved with the team," Timber told The Standard.

"You have to learn while watching. The thing is it's a long injury, between seven and nine months, but it's also coming closer every week.

"At some point you need to dig into the way we play and be ready for when I am back.

“I am involved in meetings, but also a lot of it is about communication. I keep talking to the players, the coaches and I have lunch with them."