Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber scores a rocket just eight minutes into the first game since his injury

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber scored just eight minutes into his return after spending most of the season injured.

Timber, who signed last summer from AjaxHe made his first start in football on Monday night, playing for the Arsenal Under-21s as he improves his fitness after spending most of the season on the sidelines.

And the defender made an immediate impact, scoring a beautiful goal against Blackburn just eight minutes into the match.

Timber collected the ball on the left side and cut in with his preferred right foot before firing a sensational shot past the goalkeeper.

Arsenal bought Timber from Ajax last summer for £34m and it was billed as a big coup for Mikel Arteta.

However, just moments after making his Premier League debut for the Gunners, he ruptured his ACL against Nottingham Forest in August.

Such an injury is one of the most serious in football and Timber was ruled out for eight months, but returned to light training at the end of February.

Arsenal have been extremely careful with the Dutch international and have not rushed him back, which will allow him to continue improving throughout the month of March.

The last step before reincorporating him into the matchday squads is a move to the under-21 team to get back to fitness.

And the defender wasted no time in showing Arsenal fans what he's all about with a brilliant finish to the opening exchanges.

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It remains to be seen whether or not Timber will return to first-team action before the end of the season.

But the signs are encouraging for Arteta, whose team is still locked in a title battle with Liverpool and city of Manchester.

The Gunners are currently top of the Premier League on goal difference, while City are one point behind with a game in hand.

arsenal game Chelsea on Tuesday night at the Emirates, live on talkSPORT, knowing that any dropped point could allow Liverpool and City to leapfrog them.