Jurrien Timber is ready to kick on at Arsenal in 2025, after his last year at the club presented some challenges.
Very soon after his arrival at the Emirates Stadium from Ajax in the summer of 2023, Jurrien Timber suffered an ACL injury that decimated his first season in North London.
Having picked up the injury in the first game of the Premier League season, the Dutchman did not feature again for Arsenal until the final league game of his maiden campaign.
This season, though, Timber has been able to finally establish himself as a key player in Mikel Arteta’s side, and is making up for lost time. He has made 23 appearances so far this season, across all competitions, and is keen to kick on again in 2025.
Jurrien Timber shares 2025 wish
Looking ahead to the new year, the Netherlands international has now shared his major ambition for 2025 with the official Arsenal website.
Timber said: “To win a big prize I think. That’s the biggest wish, with the club, of course. That would be amazing. I have a good feeling so let’s see.”
Winning a trophy is Arteta’s main aim for this campaign too, and it is a step that this Arsenal squad need to take together in order to reach the next level, having come agonisingly close to landing major silverware in each of the last two campaigns.
The Gunners will soon take on Newcastle United in the semi-final of the EFL Cup. This is a competition that Arsenal need to take seriously, and Timber will be keen to make an impact in those fixtures.
Timber opens up about Arsenal injury battle
It was a cruel and devastating blow for the 23-year-old defender to have his first season at Arsenal stolen away from him in the manner that he did.
However, Timber is still able to take a philosophical view of his 2024 experience.
He reflected: “I started the year still injured, I had just gone on the pitch, I think, at the beginning of 2024. So a bit of a rollercoaster but, at the end, also a special year, coming back from injury and playing for Arsenal.
“It wasn’t easy but at the same time I think I felt lucky being here and blessed with the people around me. It was my first year living here, so I got to know a lot of new people, new teammates, I think all of that was very fun, just the part of being injured was hard at times, but I think I came out good.
“I would also say that the people around me, they need to be strong as well, they need to be good to keep me going and they did that so that made it easier for me to keep going.”
Timber used his time on the sidelines to learn about Arsenal, too. He studied Arteta’s tactics, and came to understand his role at the club, which helped him to hit the ground running upon his return.
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