Timber out of Arsenal finale after ankle surgery

Jurrien Timber will miss Arsenal's final Premier League game of the season against Southampton after undergoing ankle surgery on Tuesday.

The Netherlands full-back was absent from Sunday's 1-0 win against Newcastle and manager Mikel Arteta said on Wednesday he would be "out for a few weeks".

Timber, 23, has played 48 times across all competitions for Arsenal this term after missing the majority of last season with an ACL anterior cruciate injury.

"With Jurrien, you understand that he was coming back from an ACL one year out, and to have this season after an ACL, it's incredible," said Arteta.

"We didn't sign a player, we signed a leader, a very, very special character."

Arteta also confirmed centre-back William Saliba will miss the Gunners' trip to Southampton on Sunday because of a hamstring injury.

"William is going to be out for a few weeks, unfortunately. He pulled his hamstring against Newcastle, so he's going to be out for a few weeks," Arteta told Bein Sports.

Saliba's 100th Premier League appearance ended early on Sunday as he was forced off at half-time with a hamstring problem at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will secure second in the Premier League with a win or a draw at St Mary's on Sunday, although they can lose and still finish runners-up on goal difference from Manchester City depending on results, as they are six goals better off in that department than the dethroned champions.