Mikel Arteta reserved special praise for one ‘extraordinary’ Arsenal star after the Gunners continued their winning run and kept yet one more clean sheet in last night’s 3-0 Champions League stroll against Slavia Prague.
A Bukayo Saka penalty and a second half brace from stand-in striker Mikel Merino helped Arteta’s men make it 4 wins from 4 in Europe up to now this season.
Overall, the relentless Gunners have won 10 consecutive games in all competitions and have now gone eight matches without conceding, a sequence that dates back to their victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park on September 28.
Even with a rather altered back 4, with summer recruit Piero Hincapie filling in for Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal were largely untroubled last night with right-back Jurrien Timber producing one other superb display.
The Netherlands international appears to have seen off competition from Ben White and his now firmly established as Arsenal’s first selection right-back.
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Timber drew significant plaudits from newly inducted Premier League Hall of Famer Gary Neville last month and Arteta was equally effusive in his praise of the previous Ajax star.
He said: ‘Extraordinary. For me, he’s been phenomenal in every department.
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‘I feel he’s taken his level and the team’s level to a distinct dimension, against his opponents, the way in which he penetrates, the way in which he wins duels, the way in which he understands the sport, the way in which he desires to make things occur.
‘A giant example for the remaining of his teammates.’
Despite their flawless record of late, Arteta opted to make a tactical change last night and asked William Saliba to step into midfield on a more frequent basis.
Asked to elucidate that subtle tweak, Arteta said: ‘That was related concerning the way they press, and the way in which the nine makes the press and the way in which where we could find certain benefits and time, because if not, every little thing is completely man-to-man.
‘And it’s a extremely difficult game to play always, especially after the direct play. And we could have done higher; it’s something we haven’t had time to coach really.
‘So, to have more solutions and to try things, and to especially put players of their qualities with a bit more time on the ball. It’s something that I desired to try.’
Hincapie, meanwhile, caught the attention on his first Champions League start for the club he joined on loan from Bayer Leverkusen in the summertime.
‘Very blissful, he can play in those two positions, as a centre-back or full-back,’ said Arteta when asked for his assessment of the Ecuador international’s display.
‘Today, the way in which we had to establish and the situation that we have now to assume with the ball.
‘I feel he was really good, really strong, really efficient and really good, because now he’s got some minutes within the last week with two games and the last minutes against Burnley. So, we’re getting him up to the mark.’
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