Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has claimed the club told him to stop going on holiday after he went to five countries during injury rehabilitation.
Timber went on summer 'world tour'Arsenal told him it was 'too much'Dutch defender set to be fit for Man Utd openerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Speaking to , Timber said he "could not sit still" during the summer and continued his injury recovery while on trips to Turkey, Curacao, Miami, Marbella and the Asian hinterlands. Arsenal sent a fitness trainer along with Timber on his world tour before eventually deciding his summer travels had gone on too long, telling the player it was "too much".
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Timber missed the end of the season with an ankle problem and underwent surgery in May. He is now back to fitness and should be ready to face Manchester United in Arsenal's opening Premier League fixture. The 24-year-old made sure to enjoy his summer in the meantime.
WHAT TIMBER SAID
Timber said: "I have seen the whole world in two months. I had surgery at the end of last season, an ankle operation to take something out that was bothering me for a long time towards the of the season, but I feel good now. I could not sit still during the summer to get fit, so I went to a lot of nice places. At the same time I was doing rehab. I have been to Turkey and Curacao, where my mum is from. I went with the family which was nice.
“I went to Miami for a couple of days and also Marbella. It was good – and I went to Asia, of course. I have seen the whole world in two months. Someone was with me from the club and I had more places to go, but the club said, ‘That is too much!’ At the beginning I was on crutches so I could not do much, but when I was off crutches I had someone with me."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
Timber will hope to play a key role in the beginning of the Gunners' season, which includes crunch clashes with United, Liverpool, Man City and Newcastle United before the end of September.
Timber said: "It is a tough beginning, isn’t it? But I think last season we also had a tough start and it can go both ways. If you start well, it can be amazing. That is the challenge. But I think we also need to have that approach of it being another game we need to win. That is the best way to approach it."