Latest news with #JurrienTimber
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Arsenal's player of the season: Jurrien Timber – a beacon of consistency
When a new player arrives as a 22-year-old vice-captain of Ajax carrying a £38million price tag, pressure and expectation are natural. But when their league debut is then upended by an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, and the team's defence evolves into the league standard-bearer in their absence, the conditions for success become much more testing. Advertisement For many players, such misfortune would invite doubt and self-pity over their role and how long it may take to get back up to speed. Not Jurrien Timber, though. The Arsenal defender is made of different stuff. His quality was immediately obvious during his first pre-season, including the 2023 Community Shield victory against Manchester City, when he started in an unfamiliar left-back role and looked like he had been playing there at this level for years. That day at Wembley gave an insight into his unflappable mentality and how, despite only playing the final 21 minutes of that 2023-24 debut season after his opening-weekend injury, he somehow reappeared in August looking as if he had not missed a beat. A player of his calibre was always going to feel like a new signing, having had to wait a year to show his ability. Yet, he has still surpassed expectations. That he amassed 48 appearances in all competitions after what can still be a career-altering injury is a feat in itself, but he has delivered the most consistent and reliable individual season of anyone in the Arsenal squad, which is why The Athletic has chosen him as the club's player of the year for 2024-25. There was no one player head and shoulders above the rest as we considered the options. Declan Rice, David Raya, Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly were the other credible candidates. But 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly only became a regular in December, and Gabriel has missed the past two months through injury, including the Champions League quarter-final and semi-final. Raya was forced into many more acts of heroics than last season and recorded 13 clean sheets in his 38 league appearances, but his kicking and handling waned in the campaign's final months and he probably required another few definitive moments to be the choice. Advertisement Had the voting been based only on this calendar year, Rice would have won comfortably but niggling injuries meant he was not his usual powerhouse self until January, since when he has produced stunning goals against Manchester United and Newcastle United, and his pair of free kicks against Real Madrid. Timber, Arsenal's Rottweiler-ballerina cross, deserves recognition for how often he is an eight out of 10. His understated excellence has provided manager Mikel Arteta with a beacon of consistency in a season otherwise defined by disruption. Timber's place in the team was not guaranteed in the summer. Riccardo Calafiori had been signed to compete at left-back and Ben White, at right-back, had become so key to Arsenal in the previous two seasons with his overlapping and linking up with Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka. The most telling way to measure Timber's impact is that, even when White returned from injury in February, Arteta stuck with the Dutchman until he was lost to the ankle problem that kept him out for the final month of the season. He had usurped White and made the position his own. Amid an availability crisis, Timber's adaptability has proved valuable as he has filled in at left-back and centre-back. His first two full games of the season came away against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, playing one on either flank. They showcased his snarling side. Against the champions at the Etihad Stadium, he put in a heroic display while guarding the penalty area for the entire second half with Arsenal down to 10 men. He has been solid defensively for the entire season, with his aggression and physicality often dominating opposition wingers. Timber plays with a ferocious intensity that mirrors his manager's outlook. In the two games he missed this month against Liverpool and Newcastle, Arsenal were uncharacteristically passive. Advertisement That is not a word Timber recognises. He embodies the poise and precision, but also the focus and immersion Arteta wants from his players for the full 90 minutes of every game. He may not have the same highlights reel as others but he went through so many matches flawlessly, a consistency of execution that has been missing from a player as good as centre-back colleague William Saliba this season. The high-water mark of his campaign came against Madrid, when he delivered a clinic on how to deal with the trickery and directness of Vinicius Junior. He never looked fazed. The only time he did look perturbed was during a difficult opening 20 minutes at the Emirates against Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but, rather than shy away from the challenge and drop off, he went more aggressive. After one or two rough challenges on the Georgian to win some momentum back, he recovered well and in the return fixture in Paris, his dribbling and link-up play were key to Arsenal dominating the game for long spells. Timber may be built like a light-heavyweight boxer but he can shimmy past players and change direction as if he were a nippy winger. There is an artistry to his game. He has a unique blend of traits that makes him a rare 360-degree footballer who can play in any direction and in any third of the pitch. Very rarely does Timber lose the ball, a security that comes from his confidence under pressure and his understanding of possession football. He does not force passes, instead feinting to buy himself time to escape from pressure. 'The guy is the calmest player ever,' said Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, who was a team-mate at Ajax. 'His dribbling is a joke. He used to do these mazy runs where you just think, 'How?'. He was like a midfielder playing at centre-back. Then I try it and I'm thinking, 'Sheesh!'.' Timber was deprived of Odegaard and Saka at different times but as the season has progressed, he has been given more freedom to join in attacks. Next season, if allowed more capacity to run with the ball, he could elevate Arsenal's attack even more. If this was Timber's year of getting back up to speed following that ACL injury, just imagine what he could be next time.
CNA
26-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Dutch first choice goalkeeper Verbruggen out of World Cup qualifiers
AMSTERDAM :Uncapped goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was included in the Netherlands squad on Monday as first choice Bart Verbruggen dropped out of World Cup qualifiers next month. Scherpen, who won the Austrian Bundesliga title with Sturm Graz this month, has previously been called up as injury cover, although he has yet to play for the Dutch. Verbruggen played on Sunday for Brighton & Hove Albion as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 away in their last Premier League game of the season but Monday's announcement of the 23-man squad by the Dutch football association said he was 'struggling with physical complaints and needed time for the recovery process'. Also missing is Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber after surgery on his ankle. The Dutch begin their bid to qualify for next year's World Cup finals against Finland away in Helsinki on June 7 and then home to Malta in Groningen on June 10. Squad Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Brentford), Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam), Kjell Scherpen (Sturm Graz) Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries (both Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (RB Leipzig), Jorrel Hato (Ajax Amsterdam), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion) Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Reuters
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Dutch first choice goalkeeper Verbruggen out of World Cup qualifiers
AMSTERDAM, May 26 (Reuters) - Uncapped goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was included in the Netherlands squad on Monday as first choice Bart Verbruggen dropped out of World Cup qualifiers next month. Scherpen, who won the Austrian Bundesliga title with Sturm Graz this month, has previously been called up as injury cover, although he has yet to play for the Dutch. Verbruggen played on Sunday for Brighton & Hove Albion as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 away in their last Premier League game of the season but Monday's announcement of the 23-man squad by the Dutch football association said he was 'struggling with physical complaints and needed time for the recovery process'. Also missing is Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber after surgery on his ankle. The Dutch begin their bid to qualify for next year's World Cup finals against Finland away in Helsinki on June 7 and then home to Malta in Groningen on June 10. Squad Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Brentford), Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam), Kjell Scherpen (Sturm Graz) Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries (both Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (RB Leipzig), Jorrel Hato (Ajax Amsterdam), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion) Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion) Forwards: Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Aston Villa), Wout Weghorst (Ajax Amsterdam).
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Mikel Arteta reveals stance on Thomas Partey with his contract up this summer - and confirms position Arsenal 'NEED' to strengthen
Mikel Arteta said he wants Thomas Partey to be rewarded with a new Arsenal contract after having his 'best' season at the club — but is keen to sign a 'goal threat' this summer. The 31-year-old joined the Gunners in October 2020, with his contract expiring this summer. He has made 34 league appearances this season — the most the Ghanaian has played in a single campaign. Arteta said: 'We still have another Premier League match to play on Sunday and after that we have some time to sit down and finalise a few things that have to be done. 'In regards to Thomas, consistency-wise, it's been his best season. I think the way he's played, performed, his availability has been exceptional and he's a really important player for us. 'Yeah (I want him to stay).' On the need to reinforce his squad, he said: 'What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need the firepower out there. 'Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, you know, and we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. 'And we have to add goals, we have to add creativity, we have to add numbers and that will be in different positions.' Arteta also confirmed that Jurrien Timber underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out for 'a while', while William Saliba is set to be sidelined for a 'few weeks'. 'Jurrien had surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle,' he added. 'He's been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks. He's been navigating through the season with that issue and it needed to be resolved, so he's going to be out for a while. 'And Saliba, he's had something in his hamstring the first half, just before half-time (against Newcastle), and again, he's going to be out for a few weeks.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal: Jurrien Timber to have operation on ankle in bid to be fit for new season
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is set to have an operation on his ankle. Timber is understood to have been playing through the pain barrier for the past few months to help Arsenal in their Champions League run. The Gunners were knocked out in the semi-final stage nearly two weeks ago by Paris Saint-Germain and Timber has not played since. The right-back is now set to have a minor procedure to solve the ankle issue he has been having. It is too early to put a definitive timeline on Timber's return, but there is early optimism he will be back ready for pre-season. Arsenal are heading to the Far East this summer, where they will play matches in Singapore and Hong Kong. Timber has had an excellent season and has been one of Arsenal's standout performers. The 23-year-old has bounced back from missing the whole of his debut campaign with a knee injury. Timber has been a regular for Arsenal and, in the Premier League, only five of the Gunners' outfield players have played more minutes than him. Ben White has started the last two games at right-back in Timber's absence and is expected to keep his place for Sunday's trip to Southampton. Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of William Saliba for that game after he was forced off during Sunday's win over Newcastle with a hamstring issue. The Frenchman is due to be assessed by Arsenal's medical staff in the coming days, but they will not take any risks with him if he is not 100 per cent.
