Jurrien Timber has praised the impact of Arsenal teammate Kai Havertz following his goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea in their EFL Cup semifinal second leg clash.
The German forward scored the only goal of the encounter deep into stoppage-time to seal a hard-fought win for his side as they progressed to the final 4-2 on aggregate.
Havertz’s past year has been riddled with hamstring and knee injury which has also required surgery and ruled him out of action for most part of 2025.
However, it is now two goals and one assist in his last three appearances since making his return, which has come at a very crucial time for the Gunners.
“Kai’s presence within the team makes a big difference, but also on the pitch,” Timber said.
“Everyone can see his amazing qualities, and how happy we all were for Kai.
“He is a fun character. He is not quiet and everyone likes him. When he’s not there, I think everyone notices that, so we’re happy he’s here with us again”, he continued.
Arsenal reached their first final in six years by defeating Chelsea over two legs to reach the final of the 2025-26 EFL Cup.
The Gunners have finished second in the Premier League for three consecutive years, while they also ended their semifinal woes having suffered defeats in their last four semifinal ties across all competitions.
They are still in the hunt for the quadruple this season, with a healthy six point gap at the top of the Premier League, while they finished with a 100% record to progress to the next round of the UEFA Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s side are also still competing in the FA Cup and will face Manchester City in the EFL Cup final next month.
“I hope he enjoys this moment, and hopefully there are many more moments like this for him”, Timber concluded.
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday when they face Sunderland at the Emirates, hoping to increase their gap at the top of the standings.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
