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Jurrien Timber Eyes Starting Role at Arsenal After Injury Setback
- Jurrien Timber joined Arsenal from Ajax for £34million last summer, but his debut season was marred by injury.
- The 23-year-old Dutch defender is now fit and raring to go ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
By Isaan Khan
Published: 09:00 EDT, 23 July 2024 | Updated: 09:00 EDT, 23 July 2024
Jurrien Timber is drawing inspiration from Formula One champion Max Verstappen as he looks to establish himself in Arsenal’s backline after a prolonged injury layoff. The defender, who has been deployed in an inverted full-back role under Mikel Arteta, is seeking to emulate Verstappen’s winning mentality.
Timber returned to action in April after an eight-month absence due to an ACL injury. He has been impressed by Verstappen’s fortitude and is using the Formula One star as a motivational tool.
“I like to look at winners, and in the NBA, you see them a lot,” Timber said. “But also, you look at Max Verstappen, and you see his interviews sometimes after races, and you’re like, ‘Wow, this guy is such a big winner’.”
Jurrien Timber is raring to go ahead of the new season after battling back from an ACL injury
Timber has also praised Arteta’s tactical acumen, which has helped him thrive in various positions, including centre back and full back. The defender believes that his versatility has rubbed off on his teammates, too.
“He just puts you there and can see if you can play there or not, but he helps you a lot as well and gives me a lot of support,” Timber said of Arteta. “I think I’m lucky that I can play anywhere in the back (line), and it’s a good way to get minutes.”
With Takehiro Tomiyasu out injured and Jakub Kiwior set to leave the club, Timber is poised to play a key role in Arsenal’s backline this season.
Timber heaped praise on Gunners boss Mikel Arteta for his ability to improve his players
Timber also revealed that he has been in touch with teammate Ben White, discussing the importance of being versatile and playing in different positions.
“I think it’s good to be versatile just to play more positions. You’re also able to get more minutes then, and the coach can put you in more places — I think it’s nice for him (Arteta) as well,” Timber said.
The Dutch defender is now focused on establishing himself in Arsenal’s starting lineup and helping the team achieve success in the upcoming season.