Arsenal have stepped up efforts to secure their core players for the future, with William Saliba already committing to a new five-year contract and Bukayo Saka in line for another lucrative extension.
Now, the club is preparing to offer Dutch defender Jurrien Timber a new deal as part of their long-term squad strategy.
According to BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are in the early stages of talks to extend Timber’s current contract, which already runs until 2028. The Gunners are keen to reward the 23-year-old for his standout performances this season and his impressive return from injury.
Arteta praises Jurrien Timber mentality and maturity
Mikel Arteta has been full of praise for Timber, describing him as a “total player” during his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s clash with West Ham.
When asked whether Timber’s performances had earned him a new contract, Arteta replied:
“Yes, one hundred per cent. And especially the players that they want to be with us. And we want to attach our futures with them. Jurrien is a really good example of someone that, especially under very difficult circumstances, with a very early injury in his career, with a really difficult injury, the way he’s come back and what he’s doing for the team, it’s phenomenal. I think he’s a really good example of another one that hopefully is going to have a long career with us.”
From setback to standout
Timber suffered an ACL injury on his Premier League debut in 2023, a major setback that kept him out for nearly a year. However, his resilience and form since returning have been outstanding.
The Dutch international has scored twice and provided an assist in just six league appearances this season, often keeping Ben White out of the starting lineup.
When asked if Timber is one of the Premier League’s most underrated players, Arteta added:
“I don’t know because I rate him a lot. So I don’t know how people rate him, but hopefully a lot because when you’re talking about a total player, he has almost every quality that you want from a defender.”
As Arsenal continue to build a team capable of challenging for major honours, securing Timber’s future is another sign of Arteta’s intent to keep his young, talented core together for the long term.
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