Mikel Arteta talked about the contributions of Jurriën Timber to Arsenal.

The Dutchman has been one of the best right backs in the Premier League for the last two years since he got a starting spot following knee surgery for Ben White in November 2024.

Timber has suffered with his fair share of injuries, but he is getting back to his best, playing a big role in a midweek win.

·‘He's an unbelievable player’

Timber neatly dinked the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring for the Gunners in a 3-0 win over LOSC Lille on Tuesday evening in the Champions League. It was his first goal for the club since the groin injury that disrupted his playing time in spring and ruled him out of the World Cup.

His health will need to be managed, but Arteta is glad to have him and Ben White available again.

“It’s been a challenge, but it’s true that, obviously, he overcame a really difficult one as well in the first competitive match with Arsenal, when he injured his ACL. So, he has some background and some experience of that.

“I think he has used this time as well to challenge himself in other areas, probably to value the profession more and the fact that when you are available and you have the opportunity to play, it’s just one of the best things that can happen to you. I think he’s pushed so hard because he had some difficult moments and he’s pushed so hard with the people next to him to get back to this level.

“We see the importance of [Timber] in the team. When he's physically at his best, he's an unbelievable player; a player that can really transform your way of attacking and the aggression that he has in the defensive part of the game. He's a real character on that pitch, so it's great to have him at that level.

·Timber and White bond

“I just had [Timber and White] in my office, reviewing the game. The way they talk to each other, the way they respect each other, the way they like each other, it’s just a joy.

“That’s why when somebody plays, the other one is there to support him, and that’s what we need because with the amount of games that we play, it cannot be any different.”