Arsenal glory days coming under Arteta, insists Timber

Jurrien Timber acknowledges Arsenal fans after expressing optimism about the club's future under Mikel Arteta (Illustrative image) (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) Getty Images

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber insists that the glory days are just around the corner for the Gunners. The Dutch international has backed manager Mikel Arteta to finally deliver success after the club's recent near-misses in major competitions.

"With Arteta as our manager, the best times at Arsenal are coming," Timber said. "The culture which he has created within this club, with his vision on football at top level, is bringing Arsenal to new heights."

Arsenal go into the new season looking to rid themselves of the nearly-men tag after finishing second in each of the last three Premier League campaigns. The north London club were also beaten by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League - a defeat that Timber feels was undeserved.

Arteta's coaching impact

Timber has been particularly impressed by Arteta's personal development approach since arriving at the Emirates. "Arteta is a top coach. He really improves you as a player," the 24-year-old explained. "In such a short period I have learned so very much from him. He is pushing me massively to get the best out of myself as a person and as a player."

The defender's faith in his manager was strengthened during his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury suffered on his Arsenal debut following his £34 million arrival from Ajax. Timber missed most of his first season but returned to help Arsenal's trophy push last campaign.

"During my entire rehab I felt so much support and trust from Arteta," Timber said. "At the start, in later stages and when I was making progress and had the chance to train with the squad again and my comeback was near, he was supporting me all the time."

Mental strength and recovery

The trust and support from Arteta helped restore Timber's confidence after the serious injury setback. "The trust and help made me feel confident to play again," he explained. "It is not easy to make your return on the pitch after a cruciate knee ligament injury."

Timber also relied on professional mental health support during his rehabilitation process. He has worked with a personal mental coach since the age of 16, calling on these services to aid his recovery. "Of course, I had my bad moments, too during that first year of hard work. My emotions went up and down," he admitted.

Champions League highlights

Timber knew Arsenal were capable of competing at the highest level when they eclipsed mighty Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs in the Champions League. "During those matches against Madrid I thought 'this is what I have worked so hard for,'" he told Dutch magazine Helden. "In the home game, with our own fans, it was a sensation. And I loved that performance in the Bernabeu too."

The semi-final elimination by PSG remains a source of frustration for the squad. "It was a pity we got knocked out by PSG in the semi final, as a team we had the feeling we could beat them," Timber reflected.

Team bonds and relationships

Timber has formed particularly close relationships with his teammates, especially England star Bukayo Saka. "Saka is one of the players who has done so much for me since I arrived at Arsenal," he said. "I have built up a very close bond with him and we spend a lot of time together away from the club. The two of us even went to Wimbledon this summer to watch tennis. He is a really warm guy."

The defender also highlighted the strong squad chemistry across different age groups. "But there are a bunch of guys around my age who I also get on really well with. William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard," he explained. "There are also some young lads who we try to help, like Ethan Nwaneri, Lewis Myles-Skelly and Thomas Setford, a goalkeeper who is half Dutch."

Mounting pressure and investment

The pressure on Arteta has intensified significantly given the club's substantial investment in his project. According to The i, Arsenal have spent over £860 million on signings since Arteta's appointment six years ago, yet remain without major silverware.

Key players including Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel, Kai Havertz and Ben White all missed significant games due to injuries last season, reports The i. The fitness issues contributed to another campaign that ended without silverware despite the heavy spending on squad building.

Sources used: "Mirror", "The i" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.