{"id":4960,"date":"2026-05-06T17:19:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T17:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=4960"},"modified":"2026-05-06T17:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T17:19:14","slug":"mikel-arteta-told-to-leave-out-key-arsenal-star-for-champions-league-final-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=4960","title":{"rendered":"Mikel Arteta told to leave out key Arsenal star for Champions League final | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Arsenal should continue with Ben White for the Champions League final, says Nigel Reo-Coker (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Former West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker has warned Arsenal against starting Jurrien Timber in the Champions League final given the defender\u2019s lack of fitness.<\/p>\n

Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal as Arsenal beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate to secure their place in the final for only the second time in the club\u2019s history on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

The Gunners \u2013 who drew 1-1 in the sides\u2019 first leg in Madrid \u2013 will face off against one of Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in this year\u2019s showpiece, held at Budapest\u2019s Puskas Arena on May 30.<\/p>\n

Two decades on from Arsenal\u2019s crushing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the 2006 final, Mikel Arteta\u2019s men will be hoping for an altogether different outcome when they take to the field in the Hungarian capital.<\/p>\n

There were wild celebrations inside the Emirates as Arsenal\u2019s hopes of a historic double remained intact, with the north Londoners back in the driving seat in the Premier League following Manchester City\u2019s slip-up at Everton 24 hours earlier.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s an incredible night. We made history again together. I cannot be happier and prouder of everyone involved in this football club,\u2019 Arteta told reporters shortly after the final whistle.<\/p>\n

\u2018The manner that we got to see outside the stadium was special and unique.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Saka scored the decisive goal in north London (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
White started for a fourth straight match at right-back (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018The atmosphere that our supporters created, the energy, the way they lived every ball with us, it made it special and unique. I never felt that in the stadium.<\/p>\n

\u2018We knew how much it meant to everybody. We put everything in, the boys did an incredible job.<\/p>\n

\u2018After 20 years and for the second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final.\u2019<\/p>\n

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The Spaniard singled out Viktor Gyokeres for special praise, with the Swede producing arguably his most important performance yet since signing for Arsenal last summer.<\/p>\n

\u2018He was immense,\u2019 Arteta said of Gyokeres\u2019 showing.<\/p>\n

\u2018You can see the reaction from the crowd every time he had the ball, his work-rate and what he\u2019s giving the team is just incredible.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Timber has been sidelined for two months with a groin injury (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There had been some hopes that Timber could \u2013 at the very least \u2013 make the bench for Arsenal\u2019s semi-final second leg following a month-and-a-half long layoff.<\/p>\n

But while Arteta confirmed that Timber had been \u2018doing some stuff on the pitch\u2019 prior to last week\u2019s 1-1 draw at the Metropolitano, there was still no place for the Dutchman in the Gunners\u2019 matchday squad on Tuesday evening. <\/p>\n

Ben White therefore held onto his place in Arteta\u2019s XI for a fourth game in succession \u2013 and Reo-Coker thinks the Arsenal boss would be wise to do the same again in the final later this month.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s a big call. He (Timber) been out for so long\u2026 are you going to put him straight in a Champions League final?\u2019 the ex-West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder said on CBS Sports.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
The Gunners will do battle with one of PSG or Bayern in this year\u2019s final (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Right about now, for players who are fit and playing with rhythm, I don\u2019t think you can put Timber in now, with how long he\u2019s been out for. I don\u2019t think you could. <\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s the best right-back in the Premier League, I\u2019m not disputing the quality that he has.<\/p>\n

\u2018But now when you get to a Champions League final, you talk about momentum, fitness, players out there\u2026 it\u2019s a big call that if he\u2019s fit and available to put him in a Champions League final without playing games before.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Timber was forced off in Arsenal\u2019s win over Everton on March 14 (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reo-Coker\u2019s CBS Sports colleague, Troy Deeney, took an altogether different view on the matter, though, insisting Timber must start on May 30, even if the Netherlands international has not returned to peak fitness.<\/p>\n

\u2018That\u2019s wild,\u2019 Deeney said of Reo-Coker\u2019s suggestion. <\/p>\n

\u2018Yes (Timber should start) because he is their best player. You want your best players playing in the biggest games, that\u2019s it. <\/p>\n

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Will Arsenal win this year’s Champions League?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018Remember Ben White got his backside handed to him against Sporting, got dropped and they put Cristhian Mosquera in. Mosquera got his backside handed to him, he got dropped.<\/p>\n

The former Watford striker continued: \u2018All they\u2019ve been doing is keep changing the two. Timber is the number one.<\/p>\n

\u2018Do you know the one thing that tilts it in Timber\u2019s favour? The Carabao Cup final.<\/p>\n

\u2018Arteta put Kepa Arrizabalaga in over David Raya. You try to be loyal and all of that but this is about getting the job done.<\/p>\n

\u2018If he gets injured in the game, you take him off and you bring Ben White or Mosquera in.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: PSG or Bayern Munich? Martin Keown names who he wants Arsenal to play in Champions League final<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Michael Owen raises doubts over \u00a360million Arsenal star after Atletico Madrid win<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Ian Wright speaks out as celebration police come calling for Arsenal<\/span><\/p>\n
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