Jurrien Timber makes bold Arsenal prediction after three consecutive second-place finishes

The Arsenal defender has full faith in Mikel Arteta and is backing the Gunners boss to take his side to glory after becoming the nearly-men of football in recent years

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber insists that the glory days are just around the corner for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s men 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 Londoners were also beaten by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League – a defeat that Timber feels was undeserved.

But with the pressure on Arteta to prove he is not a serial loser, Dutch full-back Timber said: “With Arteta as our manager, the best times at Arsenal are coming. The culture which he has created within this club, with his vision on football at top level, is bringing Arsenal to new heights.

“Arteta is a top coach. He really improves you as a player. 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.”

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Timber admitted he leaned heavily on his manager when his first season at the Emirates was wrecked by a cruciate injury he suffered on his debut following his £34million arrival from Ajax in the summer of 2024.

The 24-year-old also called on the services of the sports psychologist he has used since he was a teenager before returning to help the Gunners’ push for trophies last season. Timber said: “During my entire rehab I felt so much support and trust from Arteta.

“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.

“The trust and help made me feel confident to play again. It is not easy to make your return on the pitch after a cruciate knee ligament injury.

“But I knew that I was at Arsenal for a reason and I did feel fit again. But then comes the moment when I had to get that same feeling and form as a player in matches.

“Of course, I had my bad moments, too during that first year of hard work My emotions went up and down.

“Everyone at the club was great for me. And my personal mental coach, who I have been working with since the age of 16, is also very good.”

Timber knew Arsenal were the real deal when they eclipsed mighty Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs in the Champions League.

He told Dutch magazine Helden: “During those matches against Madrid I thought ‘this is what I have worked so hard for. In the home game, with our own fans, it was a sensation. And I loved that performance in the Bernabeu too.

“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 insists he feels right at home at the Emirates and counts England star Bukayo Saka as one of his closest friends.

The Dutchman feels Arteta now has a band of brothers who are destined to now take that final step to land a major trophy.

He said: “Saka is one of the players who has done so much for me since I arrived at Arsenal.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

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