Jurrien Timber has expressed his anticipation for next season after a challenging campaign with Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta convinced Timber to join Arsenal from Ajax last summer, but the defender has had limited time to work with the manager due to an ACL injury sustained in the first Premier League game of the season last August.
Timber only returned to action on the last day of the campaign, coming off the bench in the 2-1 win over Everton. His prolonged absence impacted the Gunners and also cost him a place in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024.
There has been some speculation in the media over the past few weeks that Arsenal may decide to cut their losses with the Dutchman and allow him to depart the club during the summer window.
However, amid that speculation, Timber has made it clear that he has no intention of leaving the club and is looking forward to next season.
He said: “You feel that this team is not finished yet. It’s a good feeling to have and it is a good place to be with these guys. But we need to win our first one still and, until that time, we will be hungry for sure. I had a feeling we deserved this year to win it, to be fair. I think in a lot of aspects of the game, we were really good this season. But, let’s be honest, City are also great. It is always hard, but I think we were close. Next season we are going to try again.”
Reflecting on his return, the 22-year-old added: “It felt very good [to be back]. A bit of a double emotion to be honest, because we are not champions. It was really hard [being injured], but on the other hand, it was also nice to see everything up close with these guys. I had a lot of support this year from the fans, which was really nice. I think everyone knows an ACL injury is not easy, so I am really thankful for that. If the coach wants to use me anywhere, I’ll play. I cannot wait for next season.”
Timber’s commitment to the club and determination to succeed bode well for Arsenal as they look to build on their performances next season.