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Over the past few years, Arsenal have put together a world-class squad capable of challenging for the Premier League title and going far in the cups.
When Mikel Arteta took the Gunners reins in 2019, they were mid-table. Now, they have challenged for the title in the past two seasons.
It hasn’t been an overnight job, but with each passing transfer window, Arsenal have made incremental improvements and are now back near the top.
A year ago, the Gunners signed an outstanding talent, but a long-term injury sadly ruled him out for virtually the entire season.
However, the player in question is now fit and showing what he can do for Arsenal, with Martin Keown deeming him “the real deal”.
Martin Keown says Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber is the ‘real deal’
On 15 July 2023, Arsenal signed Netherlands international defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax for a fee reportedly worth £38million.
However, the 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury on his first competitive outing for the Gunners, and was on the sidelines for most of the campaign.
Timber is now fit again and has played in all five of Arsenal’s games so far this season, starting all but one of those.
The Dutchman was impressive against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, keeping Brennan Johnson at bay for most of the match.
And Keown, speaking on TNT Sports ahead of Thursday’s Champions League game away at Atalanta, was eager to sing Timber’s praises.
“Jurrien Timber is the real deal,” he said, as transcribed by .
“He went through the gears against Tottenham, there is a strength and determination about him.
“He has great recovery pace to get back and do his job and he can play too, reads the game so well.
“He has added to that ‘never say die’ attitude at the back that they have been building in recent years.”
How did Timber fare against Atalanta?
gave Timber a 7 out of 10 and wrote: “Did well on his second consecutive start in quick succession.
“Atalanta did not create much down the right and his inverting gave Arsenal a good option on the ball.”
Meanwhile, the went with a 6 out of 10, adding: “Proved his fitness by starting for the second time in four days.
“Another good performance and seems like the first-choice left-back.”
What next for Arsenal?
Arsenal take on Manchester City at the Etihad in a Premier League match on Sunday 22 September, 4:30pm kick-off.