Figures ‘close’ to Jurrien Timber think one unusual decision has been ‘key’ to his Arsenal success

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Jurrien Timber is making up for lost time at Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta will be delighted with the impact Jurrien Timber has had at Arsenal in recent weeks.

Timber signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2023, arriving from Ajax. The Dutchman quickly impressed for the Gunners, excelling in pre-season.

However, disaster struck for the 23-year-old in his first Premier League appearance, as he sustained an ACL injury that decimated his maiden season in English football. 

Arteta recently praised Timber for how he coped with his injury. The Netherlands international spent his time on the sidelines familiarising himself with the Gunners’ tactics, and built relationships with his teammates. 

This preparation work has paid off handsomely, as Timber has been able to hit the ground running this season. He has been able to catch the eye with his defensive commitment and aggression and with his attacking instincts.

Timber’s creativity shone through against Leicester City, as he has succeeded in bringing a new dimension to Arteta’s side. 

• READ MORE: Everything to know on Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber from his height to his brothers

The reason behind Jurrien Timber’s success at Arsenal

Those who know Timber are aware of how he set himself up for success this season.

As reported by The Athletic: “Key to his successful adaptation was the decision to stay in London for the duration of his recovery. It is common for international players to return to their home to receive treatment so that they are comfortable and can be near family.

“Those close to him say he was adamant that he wanted to stay around the club to immerse himself in the culture and learn the English way. That meant he was involved in all of the activities, team bonding and the presentations that included pre-match analysis.

“It helped him feel connected to the dressing room and enabled him to learn the intricacies of what Arteta wanted from his players in every position.”

Timber fuels competition that Mikel Arteta craves

Arteta will want to cultivate intense competition for game time in his squad. Timber’s versatility means that he can compete for game time in any defensive position.

However, he is perhaps at his best at right-back, where Ben White has been the Gunners’ established first choice in recent campaigns.

White has regularly played through injury, though. Timber’s presence taking the pressure off White to play practically every minute is no bad thing. The Gunners will play enough games this season for both White and Timber to each enjoy plenty of game time at right-back without burning out.