A year on from injury, Arsenal's Timber is ready to start all over

To drive him in the dark hours of rehab, the Dutch defender istened to motivational speeches from the late great Los Angeles Lakers star Bryant and is a disciple of fellow countryman Verstappen’s will-to-win in his pursuit of a fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Championship.

STRONGER THAN OAK: Arsenal's Jurrien Timber is back from an ACL nightmare and fighting fit for the new Premier League season. Here he works out at the Los Angeles Rams practice facility. Pic: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

MIKEL ARTÉTA has joined global sporting icons Kobe Bryant and Max Verstappen as one of the inspirations behind fit again Jurrien Timber's personal quest for greatness.

The Dutch defender was billed as the game-changer for Arsenal in their quest for a first Premier League title in two decades when he signed from Ajax last summer.