Long-term Arsenal absentee Jurrien Timber could make his long-awaited senior comeback in Saturday's early Premier League kickoff against Bournemouth.
The Dutchman has now competed in two Under-21s matches since making a full recovery from August's ACL injury, scoring a stunning goal in his 45-minute cameo against Blackburn Rovers.
Having come through those matches without any setbacks, Timber is optimistic of his chances of making Mikel Arteta's squad on Saturday, but he certainly will not be considered for a start.
The ex-Ajax man has a case to be Arsenal's first-choice left-back next season, but for the time being, Takehiro Tomiyasu should continue in that role over Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Japan international should form an untouched backline alongside Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in front of David Raya, whose latest error in Sunday's North London derby did not prove costly.
Declan Rice also had his blushes spared after giving away a late penalty in that 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur, and the Englishman is set to join forces with Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard in an unaltered engine room.
Despite Reiss Nelson's euphoria-inducing late winner in this fixture last season, the Hale End graduate has no chance of starting over Bukayo Saka, who emulated 1996-97 Ian Wright by becoming the first Arsenal Englishman in 27 years to score 15 Premier League goals in a single campaign last weekend.
Saka should complete an unchanged XI in the attacking trident with Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard, the latter of whom is still keeping the out-of-form Gabriel Martinelli at bay.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
