Arsenal will launch a Premier League campaign with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Dutch Julien Timber hoping that some of his summer fitness jobs will be rewarded – despite gunners pulling plugs into some of his holiday plans
Jurrien Timber has turned his summer holidays into a world tour – until Arsenal tells him to stay home. The Dutch fullback whistle stop travel Odyssey took him to hinterlands of Turkey, Curacao, Miami, Marbella and Asia, laughing, “I saw the whole world in two months.”
However, the gunner sent a lumber fitness trainer for some of his overseas trips, intervened and asked him to stop stamping his passport. On Sunday he joined Arsenal’s latest crusade, with his ankle issues cured in a first-day headline clash with Manchester United, who was in the final three seasons, and his new £200 million teammate increased the charge.
Timber explained: “I had surgery at the end of last season. It was an ankle surgery to take away something that had been bothering me for a long time towards the season, but now I feel better. I sat still in the summer and went to a lot of nice places.
“I went to Miami for a few days. It was good. And of course, I went to Asia. Of course I saw the whole world in two months. Someone was with me from the club and there were more places, but the club said, ‘That’s too much!”
“I was on crutches at first so I couldn’t do much, but when I was off the crutches, there was someone there with me.”
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Timber’s mobility and versatility made him a key component of his average Premier League defense last season. 34 goals shipped in 38 games.
The gunners should be miserable again for the next nine months, Timber admitted: “I didn’t realize it had the best record. I know we were defending ourselves well and focused on ourselves, but we defended as a whole team.
Arsenal’s first six league games include dates for United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle. There is also acknowledgement that title challenges will be defined by the end of September.
Timber said: “That’s a tough start, right? But I think last season had a tough start, too. It can start well. It’s amazing. That’s the challenge.
“Arsenal has already shown for several years that we are constantly fighting for the title, and each year they are trying to strengthen our team this summer as well. We have a great group and a group that does amazing things.
“There’s nothing you can do more than go for it and fight for it. We have a manager. We have a team. We have a club. That’s why everyone is excited to start again. We know there’s a chance, so give it everything.
“I think everyone expects a lot from them this season. Chelsea looks great. There are a lot of good teams. It’s certainly going to be difficult.
“That’s why it’s so important to focus on ourselves and believe in what we can. We can’t see what’s going on around too many teams and leagues. I don’t think that’s good for us or anyone.”
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