David Raya says surprise Arsenal star is one of the three best players in the whole world
Arsenal are now one of the best teams in the world.
The Gunners have shown incredible improvement season after season under Mikel Arteta, and they finally got over the line to win the Premier League last season.
The Arsenal manager is the biggest reason why they are where they are, but the players he has signed and developed deserve enormous credit too.
David Raya has now revealed how highly he rates two of them.
David Raya says Jurrien Timber is among the three best players in the world
Jurrien Timber is up there with the best right-backs on the planet.
The Dutchman has been unlucky with injuries since he joined Arsenal, but every time he has been fit, he has been incredible.
Timber is currently injured as well and hasn’t yet played a game this season. He is expected to be back soon, though, which is a big boost.
Raya has watched the former Ajax man very closely over the last three seasons, and it looks like he has been blown away by his performances.
In an interview with ESPN, the goalkeeper was asked to name the three best players in the world right now.
He replied: “Kylian Mbappe, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes.”
That is a surprise – not because Raya rates Timber so highly, but because the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba are usually ranked above the Dutchman.
However, the fact that Raya thinks Timber is one of the three best players in the world, ahead of his compatriot Lamine Yamal, shows just how good the Arsenal right-back really is.
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Arsenal don’t have to rush Jurrien Timber back from his injury
Arsenal really missed Timber at times last season and had to rush him back for the Champions League final, albeit as a substitute.
An argument can be made that the Gunners would be European champions by now if the Dutch international was fully fit, as Cristhian Mosquera, who started at right-back, conceded the penalty that helped PSG level the game.
Arsenal fans would love to have Timber back immediately, but there is no rush this time.
That’s because Ben White has been playing incredibly well, while Ezri Konsa has also arrived from Aston Villa and can play there.
Arteta and his coaching staff should thus take their time with Timber and only bring him back once there is zero risk of injury.
