Timber Must Start Champions League Final, Says Merson as Arsenal Eye Historic Double

Arsenal stand on the brink of history this weekend. Having finally ended their 22-year Premier League title drought, the Gunners now chase the double against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Yet there remains a significant question mark over one of their key personnel.

Jurrien Timber, the £38m Dutch defender, has been conspicuous by his absence since March with a groin problem. Mikel Arteta's men have managed without him down the stretch, but whether the 22-year-old can feature in the biggest game of the season remains uncertain.

Not everyone is waiting to see. Paul Merson has made his position crystal clear: Timber should play.

"I think Jurrien Timber has to play," the Arsenal legend declared on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. "There's talk that he will be fit. He's got to play, even if he's half-fit I would take a chance on him because he has to play in that game."

It's a bold call, but Merson's reasoning carries weight. Timber's absence has been keenly felt, and a final is precisely the sort of occasion where his defensive solidity could prove invaluable.

When pressed on Arsenal's chances against the Champions League holders, Merson was bullish. The key, he suggested, lies in their set-piece prowess. "I think they've got a chance, especially with the way they do set-plays," he explained. "Anytime they get a set-piece will be like a penalty because PSG are a small team, they're a good team but they're a small team. I think PSG will struggle with that. You're talking about one of the best forward lines against one of the best defences."

Not everyone shares such optimism about Arsenal's prospects. Fellow pundit Ruud Gullit has backed PSG to remain favourites, particularly after their tactical masterclass against Bayern Munich. "The way they played against Bayern was outstanding tactically," Gullit told MrRaffle.com. "And physically, they are top of the bill at the moment. They don't give the opposition any easy build up — they press you immediately. And all their great players are willing to work hard. That's a fantastic combination."

Gullit singled out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for particular praise. The Georgian winger's transformation since his move from Napoli has been remarkable. "If you watch Kvaratskhelia when he played at Napoli, he would do something brilliant and then just walk around," Gullit reflected. "Now he's running back like crazy, working really hard. That makes him a complete footballer. I like him very much."

As for the final prediction? Gullit went for a straightforward scoreline: "2-0 Paris Saint-Germain."