Injury blow for Arsenal as Timber and Saliba ruled out of season finale

Timber, 23, has featured regularly throughout the current campaign, making 48 appearances in all competitions following his return from a serious ACL injury that sidelined him for much of last season.

The setback means he will now be unavailable for the Gunners' last outing of the year.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, manager Mikel Arteta praised the player's resilience and impact both on and off the pitch: "Considering he was out for a year with an ACL, what he's achieved this season is remarkable. We didn't just bring in a player, we brought in a leader — someone with a truly special mentality."

In a further defensive setback, centre-back William Saliba will also miss Sunday's trip to St Mary's after suffering a hamstring injury during last weekend's narrow win over Newcastle. "Unfortunately, William picked up a hamstring injury and will be out for the next few weeks," Arteta claimed..

Despite the absences, Arsenal remain well-placed to secure second place in the Premier League. A draw or win at Southampton would confirm their position as runners-up.