Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber takes inspiration from Kobe Bryant and Max Verstappen as he looks to bounce back from injury hell

07/23/2024 11:52 AM

Jurrien Timber says he has taken inspiration from 'big winners' Kobe Bryant and Max Verstappen in his footballing career.

The Dutch defender played just three games for Arsenal following his £34million move from Ajax last summer when he was forced off midway through his Premier League debut due to rupturing his cruciate ligaments.

Timber is raring to go for the new season

Hayters

He finally made his second league appearance for the Gunners on the final day of last season against Everton – and now, he’s preparing to kick-start his Emirates career next month.

As well as crediting Arsenal for helping him through his injury, Timber has revealed he also looked at stars outside out of football for inspiration, with his most recent X posts being quotes from basketball legend Kobe Bryant and Formula 1 star Max Verstappen.

When asked if he sees the two big sporting names as role models, Timber smiled as he said: “Yeah, I like to look at winners, In NBA you see them a lot.

"For example, Max Verstappen as well, you see his interviews after [races] and he's just such a big winner.

"I just love to see that and see his comments after things that happen after a race, you know?"

Verstappen exchanged angry radio messages following his Hungarian Grand Prix defeat after his collision with Lewis Hamilton and then used a two-word expletive to respond to critics of his behaviour.

Losing will have been an unusual feeling for the Red Bull driver who has won three Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles.

Meanwhile Bryant, who tragically passed away in 2020, claimed five NBA championships with the LA Lakers.

Timber has bounced back from his injury

Getty

He’s been inspired by Verstappen’s Formula 1 dominance

Getty

As well at the late Bryant, who also won two Olympic gold medals

AFP

He won two gold medals with Team USA in basketball in 2008 and 2012 and inspired millions, including tennis superstar Novak Djokovic.

This season, Arsenal will be hoping to win their own piece of silverware in their third attempt at winning the Premier League title after missing out to Manchester City for the past two seasons.

And after watching from the sidelines last term, Timber is more than ready for the challenge.

When asked if Arsenal can adopt Bryant and Verstappen's winning mentality, he said: "Yeah, definitely. I think we have it a lot already.

"We have a lot of leadership and winners in the group already, but it's always good to add [more] I think."