Mikel Arteta has conceded that both Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber face a race to be fit before the end of the season in a major injury blow for Arsenal . The pair have been absent for weeks as they recovered from respective foot and ankle injuries , but it was hoped that they may be back to bolster Arteta’s squad for the final few games of the season. But although Merino was back on the grass at Arsenal’s training base this week, his manager confirmed that neither he nor Timber are under consideration to feature in Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with West Ham. Confirming that he had no fresh injury concerns otherwise, Arteta said that the pair’s recovery had to be “so smooth and quick” for either to feature before a campaign that will conclude with the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday 30 Ma y – with Timber’s issue, particularly, more complex than first thought.…