Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber believes the club is on the brink of a new golden era under Mikel Arteta, despite recent near misses
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Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber believes the club is on the brink of a new golden era under Mikel Arteta, despite recent near misses in the Premier League and Europe.
The Gunners head into the new campaign under pressure to finally deliver silverware, having finished runners-up in each of the last three Premier League seasons and falling to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s Champions League semi-finals. But Timber insists that Arteta’s leadership has Arsenal firmly on the right path.
“With Arteta as our manager, the best times at Arsenal are coming,” the Dutch full-back said. “The culture he has created within this club, with his vision for football at the top level, is bringing Arsenal to new heights.
“Arteta is a top coach. He really improves you as a player. In such a short period I have learned so much from him. He is pushing me massively to get the best out of myself as a person and as a player.”
Arsenal - Jurrien Timber
Arsenal - Jurrien Timber
Timber, 24, joined Arsenal from Ajax for £34 million in the summer of 2024 but saw his debut campaign derailed after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury on his Premier League debut. He credits both Arteta and his long-time sports psychologist for helping him recover the confidence to return last season.
“During my entire rehab I felt so much support and trust from Arteta,” Timber explained. “At the start, in the later stages, and when I was close to training with the squad again, he was always supporting me. That trust made me feel confident to play again.
“It is not easy to return from a cruciate injury. I knew I was at Arsenal for a reason and felt fit again, but I had to regain that same feeling and form in matches. Of course, I had bad moments during that year of hard work, my emotions went up and down.
“Everyone at the club was great for me. And my personal mental coach, who I’ve worked with since the age of 16, was also very important.”
With Timber now fully fit and eager to contribute, Arsenal’s squad is strengthened for another push at the title. And with the defender convinced that Arteta has laid the foundations for success, the Gunners will once again set their sights on ending their long wait for major honours.