Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised defender Jurrien Timber for his impressive return from an ACL injury. Timber joined Arsenal in 2023 for a fee of £34m but suffered a torn ACL on his Premier League debut, causing him to miss most of his first season in England. However, this season has been different, with Timber featuring in seven games for Arsenal so far, including six starts.
Arteta also highlighted the addition of Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal’s defense this summer. Both players bring valuable qualities to the team, such as football intelligence, adaptability in attack and defense, and the ability to occupy different spaces on the field. This adds a new dynamic and unpredictability for opponents when defending against Arsenal.
Arteta emphasized that full-backs must prioritize their defensive duties and have a love for defending. He praised the quality that both Timber and Calafiori possess in this aspect. When asked about Timber’s character, Arteta described him as a leader who constantly thinks about how he can help others while bringing great quality to everything he does.
Despite facing challenges such as moving to a new country and suffering an early injury setback, Timber showed resilience by building strong relationships with teammates and physios during his recovery period. He also took the initiative to gather information about Arsenal’s playing style, which helped him better understand both himself as a player and how the team operates.
Arteta commended Timber’s positive attitude and determination throughout his journey at Arsenal so far.
