LONDON -- Jurriën Timber has welcomed the competition for a starting spot with Ben White, and said they help "make each other better."
Despite the two being at Arsenal since 2023, manager Mikel Arteta has rarely been forced to pick between his right-backs owing to their alternating injury records.
Timber missed almost the entirety of the 2023-24 season because of a knee injury, leading to White starting 37 of 38 league matches.
Recurring fitness problems restricted him to just 33 appearances in the following two seasons while Timber proved a mainstay in Arteta's lineup.
Timber's minutes have been managed this season as he regains full fitness, with White starting five of Arsenal's six league games this season.
The Dutch international's sole league start came against Brighton with White out injured.
Timber came off the bench in place of White in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Leeds on Saturday.
"We have multiple players at the same position injured. I think that's just unlucky sometimes. I'm happy we're both back, both fit," he told reporters after the Leeds match.
"Ben [White] is an amazing player. I think we make each other better, which is important to help the team go to a new level as well."
Timber missed the entirety of Arsenal's title run-in last season but did come off the bench in the Champions League final.
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He subsequently missed the World Cup with Netherlands. His appearance against Leeds was his first at the Emirates since March.
When asked about his injury troubles, Timber said: "It's hard, it makes you realize how lucky you are when you are able to play, when you are fit.
"It's hard when your team is battling for something so big and you couldn't help the way you wanted to.
"It's also a learning moment as well, but this is life I think. I got out of it okay. We did, as well, becoming champions, which is amazing. So I just feel grateful being back being fit now, you realize that when you're not."