Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has voiced his opinion on Mikel Arteta’s team selection for the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, suggesting that Jurrien Timber should start on the substitutes’ bench.
The Dutch full-back has been sidelined since March due to a groin injury, and his last outing for the Gunners came during a Premier League victory over Everton. Although there is a possibility Timber could be fit for Saturday’s showpiece event, Eboue believes it would be a risky move to throw him straight into the starting lineup.
Speaking to Metro, Eboue acknowledged Timber’s desire to feature in such a high-stakes match, but emphasized that a lack of recent game time could hinder his performance. “Timber will want to play. As a player, your dream is to play the Champions League final,” Eboue said. “But he hasn’t played for a long time. He has to wait a little bit.”
Eboue also highlighted the formidable threat posed by PSG, describing them as “so strong and so fast.” He reasoned that it would be more prudent for Arteta to introduce Timber from the bench rather than risk starting a player who may not be fully match-fit against such formidable opponents.