Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber rates the club’s Premier League title chances

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber is convinced the Gunners already have all the tools they need to construct a Premier League title-winning season.

It has been a productive summer for sporting director Andrea Berta and boss Mikel Arteta, who have so far made six new permanent additions in the open transfer window.

On Thursday, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s top flight curtain-raiser with Manchester United at Old Trafford, Arteta said of their trophy pursuit: “You keep digging, digging, digging, because one day the gold is going to be there.”

Timber agreed with his manager’s mining metaphor, adding: “You can tell we are close, it is just that last step. There is nothing more you can do (except) just go for it and fight for it all the way.

“I think we have the manager for it, we have the team for it, we have the club for it. That is the reason why everyone is so excited to start again. Give it all because we know we have the chance.”

Timber disagreed that any misfortune played a significant part in Arsenal – last season’s runners-up – ultimately finding themselves 10 points adrift of that campaign’s champions.

“You always need a bit of luck but in the end last season we just weren’t good enough,” he said. “Liverpool were better. So we are trying to make that difference this season.”

Arsenal follow their trip to Old Trafford with meetings against Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Newcastle.

Timber added: “It is a tough beginning, isn’t it? I think last season we had a tough start. It can go both ways. If you start well, it can be amazing.

“That is the challenge. We have to see game-by-game, so for us it is Manchester on Sunday and then Leeds. I think we also have to have that approach of it being another