Jurrien Timber: Arsenal have a chance to 'change the narrative'

Jurrien Timber has challenged Arsenal to change the narrative ahead of their Champions League knockout clash against PSV Eindhoven.

The Gunners arrive in the Netherlands with their Premier League title hopes all but over after collecting just one point from their past two matches.

Mikel Arteta's squad, without a recognised striker following season-ending injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, also failed to find the back of the net in those two fixtures.

After falling 13 points adrift of Liverpool with only 11 games to play, the Champions League appears Arsenal’s only real shot at silverware.

And speaking ahead of his side’s first-leg last-16 fixture at the Philips Stadion on Tuesday night, former Ajax defender Timber said: "Tomorrow is a beautiful game to change the narrative and to win.

"We change the narrative by winning games, it’s as easy as that. We have to score tomorrow, we have to win games and I think in the Champions League you only have two games. So, you don’t get second chances and that will be the case tomorrow.

"We have so much quality in our group. We have a lot of injuries, especially up front. We know that. But I think it is a beautiful challenge for us as a team to put our front players, or anyone, in the best position to score goals. Hopefully, we are going to show that tomorrow."

Arsenal registered just two shots on target in their 1-0 defeat against West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, and they managed only one on Nottingham Forest’s goal in their stalemate at the City Ground, although Riccardo Calafiori hit the post.

With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli still sidelined, and makeshift forward Mikel Merino (above) again set to be tasked with leading the line, Arteta could not be blamed for wondering