‘Different dynamic’ – Arteta praises Arsenal duo’s impact on the team

Mikel Arteta has lauded the impact Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have had on his Arsenal side this season.

Calafiori started at left-back and Timber at right-back in Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester on Saturday.

Timber joined Arsenal last summer but missed most of his debut campaign through injury, while Calafiori arrived from Bologna this summer.

And Arteta says both have already made a big difference to his Gunners team.

He said: “We missed Jurrien 11 months and Riccy wasn’t here (last season). They are two players that have the football brain, the intelligence, the courage, the quality and adaptability to occupy different spaces attacking and defending.

“That gives the team a different dynamic and makes us unpredictable for the opponent to defend. And they’re both huge personalities which I love.”

Arteta says Calafiori is “in contention” for Arsenal’s Champions League clash with PSG despite concerns over whether he suffered an injury in the win over Leicester.

The Gunners boss also says he has been particularly impressed by Timber’s leadership, adding: “A leader. A guy that is constantly thinking how can I help others and bringing great quality to everything that he does.

“Even in the little time that he’s been with us and the amount of time he’s spent on the pitch, for everyone to speak so highly of him in the way that they do, that tells you everything about the personality that we have in the team.”

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