Jurriën Timber thoroughly enjoyed his first North London derby. The Dutch international appeared beaming in front of the camera on Sunday after Arsenal's narrow victory against Tottenham Hotspur (0-1).
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In April, Arsenal triumphed away against their archrivals Tottenham Hotspur, but Jurriën Timber missed out due to a serious knee injury that sidelined him for several months.
Fast forward five months, and Timber is back in action, starting in Arsenal’s lineup in the North London derby. The defender, who joined Arsenal from Ajax, played a crucial role in the team's 1-0 victory, a moment that was particularly sweet for him as he marked his first appearance in this high-stakes fixture.
After the match, Timber couldn’t hide his joy as he spoke to Viaplay. "Wonderful," he said, smiling. "My first derby, you could feel the excitement in the dressing room. We were so happy with the win." Timber, no stranger to intense rivalry games, had already experienced seven Klassiekers (the Dutch equivalent of derby matches) during his time at Ajax, winning five of them. He reflected on how the North London derby compared to those, saying, "This is a bit similar, but every match here is so important. After each game, you're exhausted. But this win felt even sweeter, especially winning at Spurs."
One of the impressive aspects of the victory was that Arsenal achieved it without key players like captain Martin Ødegaard, making Timber’s praise for the team effort even more poignant. "Credit to the team. It wasn’t easy with the players we were missing, but it was a good performance," he added.
Timber's reintroduction to the rivalry between Arsenal and Tottenham wasn't without its drama. During the heated contest, he found himself involved in a scuffle with Tottenham’s goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, an early reminder of the fierce emotions that these derbies stir up on and off the pitch.
For Timber, life has taken a positive turn once again. Having recovered from his knee injury, he has re-established himself as a key player for Arsenal and also earned his place back in the Dutch national team. "I’m happy to be fit," Timber said. "After my injury, it feels great to be back. Last week, playing for the national team alongside my brother was amazing, and now winning at Spurs. There’s also a great week ahead." He was referring to Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League fixture against Atalanta and a Premier League showdown with Manchester City, two major tests that will require him to be at his best. "I can’t complain, I’m a footballer again," Timber said, clearly relishing his return to full fitness and top-level competition.
Meanwhile, the mood was much darker for Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven. The 23-year-old Dutch defender, who had just returned from an injury himself, expressed his disappointment after the defeat to Arsenal. Despite being glad to be back on the pitch, Van de Ven was frustrated by the result. "Losing at home to Arsenal hurts," he told Viaplay. "I think we were the better team today and dominated, but with the final pass, it just didn’t come off. That they then score from a corner makes it even more bitter."
Van de Ven’s frustration was understandable, as Tottenham had shown glimpses of dominance throughout the match, but were unable to break through Arsenal’s defense. The loss was a tough blow for a team that had hoped to make a statement in the derby, but instead, it was Arsenal and Timber who walked away with the bragging rights.
As the season progresses, Timber’s return to form will be crucial for Arsenal’s ambitions, both in the Premier League and in Europe. His ability to seamlessly reintegrate into the squad after his injury, coupled with his experiences in big matches, makes him a valuable asset for Mikel Arteta’s side. For Van de Ven and Tottenham, the focus will now shift to bouncing back from this defeat and finding consistency as they navigate the rest of the campaign.
Updated: 06:19, 15 Sep 2024
