The new Arsenal signing Jurrien Timber appears to have impressed everyone, including Chelsea Women’s boss Emma Hayes. After seeing him excel at left back in the Community Shield against Manchester City, she observed why the Arsenal £38 million arrival from Ajax may be a brilliant signing for Mikel Arteta.
“Yeah, superb. Good defender, but equally, he was adept at tucking in midfield. He’s got the qualities to play the Arteta way. His qualities suit the manager’s ideas. I think he’s a great signing,” she said.
Hayes was speaking on ITV after Arsenal won the Community Shield on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Leandro Trossard equalising for Arsenal in the dying minutes of the Community Shield final to cancel Cole Palmer’s strike.
Timber was bought to play right back or central defence, but his performance against Manchester City at left back, one of the best teams in the league, just goes to show how valuable he is. He has undoubtedly improved Arsenal’s defence, which suffered at the end of last season. The ex-Ajax player will undoubtedly play a significant role for Arsenal this season, but Kieran Gibbs believes Arteta will gradually ease him into the team, as he told ESPN.
“It will be a tough one because he does look really good,” said Gibbs. “But I don’t think he is going to come in straight away after Ben White’s season last season.
“I think it will take its time. But there are so many games that he will get games anyway, so Arteta will have to rotate at some point during the season.”
The good thing about having two playerts for every position means that Arteta will have to start being ruthless, and also to force top players to have a rest now and then. We will be a lot fitter when it comes to the end of the coming season….
Daniel O
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He will be brilliant RB or right side midfielder.
I also prefer him at RB even though he did a solid job at LB.
For most games, Zinchenko at LB and Timber at RB will work well. I am sure Zinchenko will also improve his defending a little this season. It is not like these players are allowed to stand still in their development.
Arsenal has stumbled upon a GEM. From Oleksandr Zinchenko to Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Arsenal has shuffled between credible left back option on the gaffer watch.
None has been wholly convincing, barring Tierney, but Timber’s energy and positional discipline were exemplary here.
One vital block, to divert the persistent Palmers goal bound shot over the top, was top class defending, there is argument to be made had he still on the pitch Palmer goal strike would have met with the same faith.
Tierney hasn’t been wholly convincing – he’s had plenty of bad games, even before arteta joined, but overall, his injuries and the signing of zinchenko have prevented him from being able to grow into a role at arsenal.
Zinchenko was great last season until the end – needed a break – and Tomi has only been used at LB really as an emergency, or to counter a specific threat like salah (because he’s a *far* better pure defender than either Tierney or zinchenko).
Timber, I think, gives us the best attributes of all three so I think he’ll start the season as our LB (there’s no reason to take white out of the RB role as he’s been outstanding) and the others will have to be patient.
“Timber, I think, gives us the best attributes of all three so i think he’ll start the season in the left back”
Think he will now be Arsenal first choice left back.
👍
In the Metro, published on Monday the 3rd of July 2023 , The legendary Marco Van Basten gave a stern warning to Jurrien Timber leaving Ajax for Arsenal.
The legend told the defender he should remain in Holland for atleast one more year ” You have to go to a club where you know for sure that you are playing ” he warn the kid.
And the legend went on ” The moment they don’t feel they are better with you, then they all against you, because you are a intruder, then you have to do it alone”
It must have taken a steely determination after hearing those words from one of Holland greatest legends and still went against his wishes.
Maybe great footballers don’t necessarily offers the best advice.
Timber is a top drawer defensive player, and only his lack of height prevents him from being the complete package in terms of a central defender.As a RB, or as a DM he can do a great job for Arsenal.As a LB he can aid Gabriel who in some matches needs a lot of help, and he could block out virtually any Inverted opposition right winger on a one on one situation.He is limited in what he can achieve going forward on the left flank as his left foot is weak and he does not possess the ball skills of say Zinchenko who is of course a natural left sided central midfielder and is severely limited defensively.The problem is, where is Arteta going to play the excellent Timber.He cannot keep tinkering with the season about to start, so what role will be play.From what I have seen one of the best buys we have made for some time.
For me, I would start Timber as RB since he gives more than White when he drifts into midfield and is as good as a defender. Zinchenko would get the nod as LB and might benefit from this being his second season as a LB and from some extra protection from Rice.
Timber certainly looks the real deal and he played much better than both Rice and Havertz. The point is , Arteta must now rotate more than he did last season since he has got quality depth and there is no point in overplaying players. Rest and rotation is essential if Arsenal want to go all the way and cross the finishing line.
Timber is a real quality. And what makes him enjoy his runs, is what I heard him saying “I always wanted to join Arsenal” What matchmake?