Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has received good news this week.
Arsenal are currently preparing to get their Premier League campaign underway with a clash against Wolves at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta will expect his side to get off to a winning start, and they need to. The standard demanded to seriously compete for the Premier League title is now so high that the Gunners can’t afford to drop points in any game that hey’d usually be expected to win.
The North London club are certainly heavy favourites heading into this encounter with the Midlands outfit, and Arteta will be able to name a strong starting XI, with almost a full complement of players available to him for selection.
Jurrien Timber ought to capable of some level of involvement in this fixture, too. The Dutchman sat out the recent pre-season friendly against Lyon, but in very welcome news to Arteta the former Ajax man now looks to be back in action. Timber was seen in training, out on the grass with rest of his teammates.
Mikel Arteta eager for Jurrien Timber to shine for Arsenal
Timber arrived at the Emirates Stadium last summer, but an ACL injury picked up in the opening game of the Premier League season decimated his maiden campaign in English football. As such, the 23-year-old is yet to truly establish himself in North London.
Arteta has now underlined just how important he expects the 15-cap Netherlands international to be to his side this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Spanish coach said: “We’re all desperate to have him on that pitch!
“His leadership, his skills, his composure, the way he competes, his intelligence – I think he’s going to bring so much to the team. We’re gonna love him.”
Timber’s presence in training this week suggests Arteta will get his wish sooner rather than later.
What Timber will give Arsenal this season
Despite his relative youth, there is a great deal of maturity in Timber’s game. His sense of awareness, defensive positioning, and ability to read the game are all excellent, which is all the more impressive considering how many positions he will be expected to take up.
He can play anywhere across the back line, and will likely be called upon to solve a number of defensive issues as they arise for Arsenal throughout the season. There is even an argument that Timber ought to feature in midfield at times.
He is excellent on the ball, possessing great attacking instincts, and can be expected to make an impact for Arsenal at both ends of the pitch.
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