Timber shines: Arsenal’s flawless victory over Lille

On the dusky Tuesday evening, when the lights of the Emirates Stadium burned brightly, Jurriën Timber of Arsenal was seen find the ball in the crossing of the French defence. The Dutch defender scored the opening goal and set the tone for a convincing 3‑0 victory over LOSC Lille.

Media praise Timber's goal

The London Evening Standard described the strike as a ‘subtle finish’, emphasizing that Timber already before his shot was a constant threat by repeatedly surfacing behind the French defence. The outlet gave the defender an 8 and praised his preparatory work for the chances of Mikel Merino and Bruno Guimaraes.

Sports Illustrated went further and awarded Timber an 8.6. The magazine described the goal as ‘smart’ and stated that it calmed the crowd in the Emirates again. It called the strike ‘brilliant’ and ‘delicate’, and praised how Arsenal after Timber's goal found ‘itself’ again.

Jurriën Timber puts Arsenal in the race with first goal against Lille

Timber's influence on Arsenal's play

According to The Sun, Timber was Arsenal's ‘most dangerous weapon’, combining with Noni Madueke for the first goal. The British tabloid also praised his ‘silky’ first move and the partnership with Bukayo Saka that secured the win.

noted that the danger that day came from Timber, while one would normally expect it from the attack. The newspaper emphasized that Timber's contribution helped Arsenal achieve the fourteenth consecutive win in the Champions League‑group stage.

With the 3‑0 win Arsenal remains unbeaten this Premier League season, a feat widely celebrated by the English press. Timber was named Man of the Match and received praise for both his attacking threat and his defensive strength.