Forgotten Arsenal ace scores wonder goal on return as Mikel Arteta handed title boost

Arsenal ace Jurrien Timber marked his comeback with a stunning goal as the Gunners under 21s were held to a 2-2 draw by Blackburn in Premier League 2. The Netherlands international fired his side ahead just eight minutes into the clash as he made his first appearance for the north Londoners since damaging his anterior cruciate ligament at the start of the campaign.

Arsenal shelled out an initial £34million to sign Timber from Ajax last summer after the defender had impressed in Holland. But disaster struck just 50 minutes into his Premier League debut as he was forced off during his side’s season opener against Nottingham Forest.

Timber has spent the last eight months recovering from the setback and building his fitness. And he was deemed fit enough to line-up against Blackburn as Arsenal went in search of their 10th Premier League 2 win of the campaign.

Timber started the match well and illustrated his prodigious talents when he turned on the edge of the penalty area, cut the ball onto his right foot and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the top right corner of the net.

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The strike will surely have Arsenal fans licking their lips at the prospect of seeing the Dutchman in action for the first-team in the coming weeks as the north Londoners battle with Liverpool and Manchester City for their first Premier League trophy since 2004.

The Arsenal youngsters would have been confident of closing the match out at Ewood Park after 18-year-old winger Amario Cozier-Duberry doubled the visitors’ advantage from the penalty spot nine minutes before the interval. But Harrison Wood pulled a goal back for Blackburn two minutes later before Junior Nsangou secured the hosts a share of the spoils in stoppage time at the end of the first half.