Mikel Arteta told one ‘really good’ player makes Arsenal so much ‘better’ after win vs Tottenham

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Pundit Robbie Mustoe has praised one Arsenal star for making Mikel Arteta’s side even better this season.

The Gunners are relishing their North London derby win over Tottenham on match day four, beating Spurs away from home for the third consecutive campaign. 

Arteta got the job done in N17 with a hard-fought victory, tactically outclassing Ange Postecoglou with a squad deprived of several first-team regulars. 

Gabriel Magalhaes was responsible for the decisive moment as his header won the game in the 64th minute although, it wasn’t only the Brazilian who starred.

• READ MORE: Five things that are now so clear to Mikel Arteta after Arsenal win the North London Derby

Jurrien Timber praised for Arsenal display vs Tottenham

The defence earned high praise for their work at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Arsenal were near impossible to break down as time ticked on. 

Part of the success came from the role that Jurrien Timber played as the Dutchman was involved in his first North London derby. 

After missing the best part of a year due to an ACL injury, Timber returned this season hungry to secure his spot in Arteta’s back four, something he’s certainly achieved against Spurs, as Robbie Mustoe echoed.

The pundit waxed lyrical about the left-back’s performance against Tottenham when speaking on The 2 Robbies podcast, saying that Arsenal are ‘better’ with the 23-year-old in the side.

“I’ve got to say, Jurrien Timber makes them better,” Mustoe explained.

“I think he’s stronger defensively, certainly than Zinchenko. He’s really good going forward, he tends to stay a bit wider for the most part as a fullback.

“He slotted the ball down to Martinelli a few times. He makes their XI better by playing at left-back.”

It’s impossible to argue with Mustoe given the level that Timber performed at in the derby, not leaving anything to chance on the left side of defence.

Timber has completed Arsenal’s back four

Arteta has built a defence to be reckoned with at Arsenal, something that Timber’s reintroduction into the side has completed.

The Dutchman’s injury saw the Gunners’ options at left-back more frail than hoped throughout the 2023/24 campaign but still, the squad maintained the best defensive record in the Premier League. 

With Timber back, Arteta has his favoured back four available to compete this season, with strength added thanks to the capture of Riccardo Calafiori to bolster the depth.

Having the Dutchman return from injury and fit seamlessly into Arteta’s defence is like a new signing for Arsenal, an upgrade that was made clear during the North London derby.