Eberechi Eze’s hat-trick against Tottenham already felt like a defining moment in his early Arsenal career. But the reaction inside the dressing room underlines just how highly he is rated by his team-mates, as Jurrien Timber delivered a glowing verdict on the playmaker after the 4-1 win.
Speaking after the north London derby, Timber insisted that what Eze produced at the Emirates was no accident. He pointed to the “amazing qualities” everyone already knows about, but stressed that the display was built on hard work as much as flair. “It was his day and it isn’t a coincidence. He is always working hard,” the defender said.
Those words dovetail with Mikel Arteta’s own praise. The Arsenal manager has already revealed how Eze cut short his post-international break time off to return early, train, ask questions and do extra practice. For both coach and team-mates, the story of this hat-trick is simple: huge talent, backed up by serious dedication.
Jurrien Timber on Eberechi Eze after derby win
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Timber’s assessment of Eze was as direct as it was complimentary*. “I think everyone knows the amazing qualities Eberechi has. As a player I think he showed it on the pitch today,”* he said, highlighting how the midfielder translated reputation into reality on the biggest stage.
By calling it “his day” but “not a coincidence”, Timber cut to the heart of why this performance matters so much inside Arsenal. The defender sees close up, every day, the standards Eze sets in training. So when the No.10 torches Tottenham in a derby, his team-mates view it as the natural result of that work, not a one-off explosion.
Timber’s final line, “He is always working hard” ties the whole picture together. It is one thing to talk about talent; it is another to stress effort. Coming from a colleague who has to defend against him during the week, that verdict carries real weight and backs up the internal belief that Eze is building something sustainable, not just chasing moments.
Eberechi Eze work ethic at Arsenal impresses dressing room
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Arteta has already lifted the lid on Eberechi Eze work ethic at Arsenal, explaining how the midfielder returned early from his two days off after international duty because he wanted to train, improve and do extra practice. Eze was even asking the manager detailed questions about different aspects of his game.
Timber’s comments add another layer to that story. When he talks about Eze “always working hard”, it shows that this is not an isolated week of effort before a derby. It is a pattern his team-mates recognise and respect, the daily standard that sits behind nights like the 4-1 win over Tottenham.
Inside any top dressing room, there is a big difference between a talented player who coasts and one who drives standards. Eze increasingly looks like the latter. The way his colleagues speak about him suggests he is seen not just as a match-winner, but as someone whose habits push others to raise their own levels.
What Eze’s rise and Timber’s praise mean for Arsenal
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Timber’s verdict comes on the back of a week where Eze has been at the centre of the Arsenal conversation. Arteta has described how he “fully deserves” his derby heroics, talked about the “joy” and “aura” he brings, and stressed that at any moment he can win a game for the team.
Now, with Jurrien Timber on Eberechi Eze echoing that message from a player’s perspective, the picture is clear. Eze is not simply another creative option; he is a focal point in a side hunting major trophies. His team-mates expect him to decide big matches and are comfortable leaning on his ability when it matters.
That belief can be self-fulfilling. When a squad is convinced that a certain player can turn any game, they feed him the ball more, take more risks around his movement and grow in confidence from having him on their side. Eze’s hat-trick against Spurs looked like one of those turning points where reputation and reality lock together.
For Arsenal, the combination is powerful: a manager who demands and supports, and a gifted No.10 who cuts his breaks short to work, then produces under the fiercest pressure. Timber’s praise simply makes public what those inside the club already feel.
If Eberechi Eze continues to marry his “amazing qualities” with the relentless work Timber and Arteta describe, this derby masterclass will not stand alone. It will be remembered as the night when everyone outside the dressing room caught up with what his team-mates already knew that this is a player capable of winning games, weeks and seasons for Arsenal.
Related Items:Eberechi Eze, Latest Jurrien Timber News | Transfer News | Injury News and Update, Tottenham Hotspur
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