Former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit hailed two Arsenal players after the Gunners’ continued their Premier League title charge with an emphatic win over Sunderland.
The Gunners, bidding to change into Premier League champions for the primary time since 2004, temporarily moved nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City with a 3-0 victory on the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Zubimendi broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time before second-half substitute Viktor Gyokeres scored twice to place the sport to bed.
Arsenal’s seventeenth league win of the season opened up a nine-point gap at the highest of the table before Man City’s incredible comeback win over Liverpool later within the weekend.
The Gunners have matchwinners everywhere in the pitch but ex-Chelsea captain Gullit picked out England star Noni Madueke and his Dutch compatriot Jurrien Timber for special praise.
‘One player I actually like at Arsenal is Jurrien Timber,’ Gullit told Gambling Insider. ‘He may be very strong and appears convincing in all the pieces he does.
‘He’s a implausible player and one in all the best within the division, which you could have to be to be an everyday starter in Arsenal’s defence in the meanwhile.
Get your football fix
Don’t desire to miss the week’s biggest football stories? Metro’s exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the newest transfer rumours and managerial moves to evaluation of the most important games and loads more, our experts have you ever covered.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
‘I saw him within the youth teams at Ajax and he was all the time a very good, strong player. I like the best way he plays.
‘He doesn’t moan, he gets on along with his job and is an actual team player. In addition to that, he’s so clever tactically and talented technically.
‘He had an actual setback with that long-term injury when he first joined Arsenal, but he has bounced back from that and adapted to the Premier League so well.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to an internet
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Timber has established himself as a key member of Mikel Arteta’s squad since recovering from his long injury lay-off, playing in all but one in all Arsenal’s league games up to now this season.
Arsenal paid almost £40m to sign Timber from Ajax in 2023 however the Netherlands international has already gone a protracted approach to repaying that fee.
Gullit has also heaped praise on Arsenal summer signing Madueke, insisting he has been a ‘really good signing’ for Arteta.
Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal spent over £50m to sign Madueke from London rivals Chelsea but Gullit has been impressed by the 23-year-old.
‘Noni Madueke is a very good player, but he’s having to play second fiddle to Bukayo Saka when each players are fit,’ Gullit added.
‘If each are fit, Madueke is on the bench. When he’s on the pitch, nonetheless, he may be very handy and all the time an enormous threat, and I actually think one thing that stands out about him is how hard he works.
‘As much as I believe he’s dangerous on the ball, I believe it goes unnoticed how good he’s off it, helping the team. He’s doing well at Arsenal and has been a very good signing for them.’
Arsenal will hope to proceed their march towards the Premier League trophy on Thursday after they face London rivals Brentford.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Alan Shearer says Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer is in ‘horrible position’
MORE: Mikel Arteta makes Pep Guardiola claim as Arsenal battle Manchester City for Premier League title
MORE: Paul Scholes urges Manchester United to sign £42.5m Tottenham star