From Audi Field to the North London Derby: How Jurrien Timber's return has boosted Arsenal's title hopes
Jurrien Timber's tenacious, all-action display in the white heat of the North London Derby has got Gooners excited
Good morning, Happy Tuesday!
Hands up who’s still basking in the afterglow of Sunday’s glorious victory in the North London Derby?
You and me both.
There were so many positives to take from such a commanding triumph.
Not least along our backline.
The increasingly impressive David Raya between the sticks, staying strong when required - which resulted in a superb clean sheet on his 29th birthday, sealed with an outstanding first half effort that palmed away Kulusevski’s whipped in cross with Brennan Johnson lurking.
Ben White was as pleasingly antagonistic as ever, while the peerless William Saliba purred through the match, while also taking joy from others success.
To underline that point, have you noticed how Saliba absolutely loves celebrating teammates goals? Take a look next time we score, and note his manic jubilation, which is absolutely wonderful to see.
Talking of centre-backs, Gabriel popped up again with an emphatic header to win the game.
No centre-half in the country has scored more goals than The King of Brazil since he joined The Arsenal. Sixteen goals in 172 matches I believe, prior to the trip to Italy. Positively Tony Adams-esq.
Which leads us to Jurrien David Norman Timber.
The 23-year-old’s fourth appearance for Arsenal was absolutely outstanding, and showcased exactly why Mikel Arteta splashed out £34m (rising to £38m with add ons) during the summer of 2023.
And why Timber’s season-ending injury on his debut was such a blow for Arteta and the squad.
My view of Arsenal’s espirit de corps during Jurrien Timber’s ‘conversation’ with Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario. CREDIT:
……..
From Audi Field to the North London Derby: How Jurrien Timber's return has boosted Arsenal's title hopes
By Layth Yousif
…
Arsenal are delighted with the form of long-term injury absentee Jurrien Timber, who has featured for Mikel Arteta's Premier League title chasers following his long road back to fitness.
The Dutch defender caught the eye back in first team action during Arsenal’s outstanding victory in the North London Derby after the international break - with the promise of so much more to come.
The 23-year-old signed from Ajax last summer before injuring his knee in the opening Premier League match of last season - but is now poised to make a huge impact during the Gunners run-in on two fronts.
The story so far
Timber, 23, was withdrawn after 50 minutes of the Gunners 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates back in August 2023, with the club revealing he had suffered a tear in his ACL - forcing the highly-regarded Dutch defender to miss the vast majority of the 2023-24 season.
However, away from the spotlight, the talented defender impressed many at the club, by working so hard during his recovery - and is set to give Arteta's silverware chasing side a huge boost in a crucial week, ahead of the crucial clash vs Manchester City at the weekend, via a Champions League trip to northern Italy, where the Gunners will face Atalanta in the city of Bergamo.
The eagerly-awaited fixture at the Etihad on Sunday while provide another stage for the talented former Ajax star to appear in Arteta's starting XI - with Timber keenly poised to make a long-awaited impact with the first team squad, building on from his superb performance in N17 at the weekend.
Timber's perfectly timed run to full fitness has handed Arsenal a major fillip during what is already a crowded schedule, with the Netherlands star set to shine at the Etihad on Sunday.
Timber impresses on arrival
I reported on the match at Audi Field, Washington DC in the summer of 2023, and noted the emergence of Timber - whose cameo appearance on Thursday, July 20, against Wayne Rooney's MLS All Stars ended in a comprehensive 5-0 victory in the American capital.
Forty-eight hours later and 300 miles on, during a baking afternoon in New Jersey at the MetLife Arena in East Rutherford, I also covered the impressive Timber reassurringly fitting into the mold of the type of player Arteta craves.
Despite the 2-0 loss against Manchester United in front of a sellout 82,500 at the stadium that will host the 2026 World Cup final, Timber excelled.
Not least through an excellent technique that was reared at the famed Ajax academy, while showing his positional awarenss to duck into midfielder from left-back to bolster colleagues further forward.
While his tenacity was underlined by a ferocious challenge on United's Jadon Sancho, that, despite heatwave temperatures in Soprano's country in NJ, was warmly welcomed by the tens of thousands of Stateside and travelling Gooners.
Back on the other side of the Atlantic, Timber then appeared against Monaco at the Emirates Cup on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, before another superb performance the following weekend, when the Gunners eclipsed Pep Guardiola's treble-winning Manchester City to claim the 2023 Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, August 6.
It was clear to everyone watching that Arsenal had a genuine defensive talent in their midst - and at only £34m plus £4m add-ons for the Netherlands full-back.
And then, as we all know, injury struck.
The Long Road to Recovery
It's been a long road back to recovery but I understand Timber's attitude has been exemplary throughout his rehabilitation.
Timber earned plaudits behind the scenes when relentlessly pushing himself to the limits during those dark days away from the first team squad of his new club - with his perfectly-timed remergence for the start of what could be a momentous season for Arsenal.
How Timber will boost silverware chasing Arsenal
The exceptional Timber can play as a right-back, centre-back and left-back.
He can ease into midfield, but as a more athletic Oleksandr Zinchenko - or he can simply underline his defensive qualities in a flat back four, a five, as an attacking wing-back or a more traditional full-back.
No wonder Arsenal boss Arteta is excited at the return of such riches at his disposal - and at such a crucial early juncture of the season no less.
Not least because Timber's return adds to a squad that is not only bristling with talent, but tenacity and athleticism.
Such tenacity is welcome. As witnessed by Timber’s refusal to take a backward step during the hard-fought North London Derby last weekend - that had many Gooners salivating at his performance, both defensively, and offensively.
Outstanding in defence, superb when attacking on the ball, or when supplementing colleagues further forward, Timber’s aggressive attitude on the field, belies a quiet nature off the field.
Thirteen long months on, this burgeoning Arsenal squad is finally benefitting from a startling ‘new’ addition. that can only help fuel its chances of glory.
Excited at the return of Timber?
You'd better be.
……
DAILY LIST:
I - Train/tube to Heathrow for my cheap flight to Milan which arrives after kick-off between Milan and Liverpool. In your face stupid, greedy airplane ticket algorithms.
II - Five Euro train from Milan Malpensa to the city of Bergamo.
III - Find my cheap accommodation for the next three nights in Bergamo
What could possibly go wrong…
See you in Italy
