Mikel Arteta Should Start Jurrien Timber at Left Back at the Start of the Season
As Arsenal prepare for the new Premier League campaign, manager Mikel Arteta faces a significant decision in the left-back position. Amidst a settled squad, pre-season provided valuable insights into potential starting players, and one player who has truly stood out is Jurrien Timber.
Originally signed from Ajax as a right-sided center back and right-back, Timber’s impressive performances in pre-season have demonstrated his versatility, making a compelling case for him to start at left-back, especially with Alexandr Zinchenko’s absence from the pitch.
Jurrien Timber vs Barcelona pic.twitter.com/A7UzXV1VTM
— Sjayy 🎱 (@sjayy24s) July 27, 2023
Jurrien Timber showcased exceptional adaptability during pre-season, proving he is just as comfortable on the left side of defense as he is on the right. He looked more at home there than the other players that the Arsenal boss used such as Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
With Zinchenko yet to feature in any pre-season matches, starting the Dutch international at left-back would provide the London side with a solid defensive option while also adding a touch of flair and composure to the team’s midfield.
In the match against Barcelona, the youngster’s performance shone, earning him praise for his poise and control on the ball. Arteta had initially expected Zinchenko to fulfill the role of inverting to a midfielder and contributing to the team’s attacking plays from the left flank. However, the Ukrainian’s absence and Timber’s ability to seamlessly make runs into the final third, along with his midfield acumen, makes him a standout choice for the position.
Furthermore, Timber’s presence as an attacking outlet down the left-hand side provides Arteta with an added dimension to their play. His ability to contribute in the final third sets him apart from Zinchenko, enhancing the Gunners’ attacking prowess from the left-back position.
Taking all these factors into consideration, it would be wise for Arteta to entrust Timber with the left-back role at the start of the season. His performances in pre-season have proven his class and potential to make a significant impact in the North London outfit’s lineup.
As the 22-year-old emerges as a strong candidate for the left-back position, it also raises questions about Kieran Tierney’s future at Arsenal. Regarded as a key figure in the club’s journey, Tierney’s potential departure seems closer to reality.
While his contributions to the team have been immense, starting Timber would naturally push Tierney down the pecking order. It would be unfair to keep a player of Tierney’s caliber in a third or fourth-choice role, and thus, it might be time for Arsenal to bid an emotional farewell to the talented Scotsman.
RB, CB, LB, it makes no difference to Jurriën Timber, he will smash it either way ⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/UVD6XIpKMM
— Gooner Chris (@ArsenalN7) July 27, 2023
In conclusion, Jurrien Timber’s exceptional performances in pre-season have made a strong case for his inclusion as Arsenal’s starting left-back at the beginning of the Premier League season. His versatility, attacking prowess, and midfield composure offer Arteta a dynamic option on the left flank.
While Timber’s potential inclusion signals the end of Kieran Tierney’s journey at North London, it is essential to recognize Tierney’s significant contributions and wish him the best for his future endeavors. As Arsenal aims for a successful season, Timber’s presence in the starting lineup could prove to be a game-changer for the Gunners. Whereas Tierney would be saddened that his best years are not at a club he dreamed of having them.
But this is football, and one must move on from any bad experiences to focus on the future and what it might have in store for us. I’m sure the former Celtic man will do big things in someone else’s colours.
Writer – Yash Bisht
Josip may be joining Arsenal soon. Defender has a high work rate and is a gifted passer of the ball. Similar to Timber!
The way Timber won ground duels and worked his socks off in pre-season games reminds me of Michael Essien’s playing style
If Tierney leaves, we might not play with conventional fullbacks again in the next two years
Gai, The Boy Timber is a good player. I think using him either right or left will depend on the opposition deadliest wingers. ie I will prefer Timber against Rashford, Salah and Grealish. He seems more good on grand duels than White and also physical. My fear is Arteta needs to balance his midfield. Against Baccelona and Monaco the back line were left too exposed bcos of the midfielders forward runs… One overtop pass from top opposition like MCity, Liverpool and ManU would lead to goals.. against Arsenal.
He looked dominant in ground duels, but he might struggle in aerial ones
Agreed. I thought he was out Arsenal’s standout player in the match against Monaco last night. Looked every bit as good as Zinchenko when he ‘inverted’ into midfield or overlapped, but is quicker and stronger defensively. Maybe use Zin more as an orthodox midfielder (eg, alternative to Rice in the Xhaka role) and let Timber be first choice LB?
While Timber is a very fine centre back and right back he is not a left back and never will be .We already have quality players in Tierney and White who are not only defensively adept but who are comfortable crossing on the run when they bomb forward.Timber may be capable of doing likewise on the right, but he cannot do it on his weaker side .From what I have seen of Arsenal in pre season they look vulnerable in defence particularly down our left flank where the inverted set up favoured by Arteta is leaving gaps which are being exploited by our opponents.Our centre backs, in my opinion, have not impressed and that is where Timber should be used, as he was with Ajax and the Dutch national team.Arteta may be simply tinkering in pre season, but it seems to me that he is not yet aware of his starting eleven.As to the goalkeeping situation, I see Chelsea have signed Sanchez from Brighton for £25m.A very good buy at that price imo.
White is never a left back either 🤔
you need to watch timber versus barca. may be better then zinchenko as left back, and we go for invetwd fullbacks, zinchenko isnt our crosser either he goes in the middle more when attacking. and i think he actually can cross whith his left foot to. But i do prefer Zinchenko or tierney atm. need more games to asses timber. but he was impressive, especially how he controlled Raphina.
I just checked, he’s never played LB while at Ajax. I don’t see any reason so start now playing him there. We have Tierney, Zinc, even Tavares still at our disposal. Even Tomiyasu has played left-sided CB before.
You didn’t see any reason?
Maybe you missed our preseason games, with zinchenko not available and Tierney not able to play the way arteta wants his fullback to play he will definitely be playing there at the start of the season starting from Sunday, immediately in saw arteta switching him to lb and him impressing i immediately knew he will be there until zinny is back, arteta wanted to give kiwior the lb role but from all indications Timber beat him to it, doesn’t matter to us how ayax used him, what matters now is he is an arsenal and he fits the bill at lb at the moment
BW at RB, Tierney at LB…Timber next to Partey in midfield!
That will be a very mobile, defensive setup with great aggressive tacklers.
Well he will play as Zinchenko is out injured and Tierney is not fancied and likely off or be on the bench.
We have one of the finest defensive left backs in the PL… I emphasise defensive, because that’s what Tierney is.
He’s not inverted, extraverted, underverted or even oververted, he’s a proven LB of the highest standard.
The reason why MA doesn’t play him is a mystery, as it seems he has talked the player into staying.
So why would we put the pressure on Timber, who has never played in that position, while ignoring Tierney?
Tierney has said he wants to play, he’s fit to play and that left side is where, with Zinchenko playing, we were at our weakest defensively.
To say that he can’t play the way MA wants him to play, is a red herring, as he hasn’t been given the opportunity to prove he can by being given an extended run.
Spot on Ken.The acquisition of Timber who I rate highly,came out of the blue, and my immediate reaction was to regard him as very strong competition for our centre backs as he has excelled in that area for Ajax and Holland.I was therefore surprised to find him being slotted in at RB particularly when Ben White was arguably our best defender last season.As far as I am concerned Timber, White and Tierney should start in a back four along with either Saliba or Gabriel but from the pre season games it looks as though White may join Tierney on the bench.In any event,the pre season games have shown us to be ropey in defence but will Arteta acknowledge this and revert to a conventional back four or, like Man City, a back three or will be continue with a hybrid set up with players who are played out of position?I suspect he will be very reluctant to admit that he may be wrong and as a consequence, I expect us to continue to ship goals under pressure .Sorry to sound so pessimistic but it frustrates me to see the likes of White and Tierney twiddling their thumbs when they ought to be battling on the pitch.
Was just wondering if we are all talking about the same player, Tierney was solid in preseason playing sometimes in an inverted role too.
Please look back at the games as I was surprised seeing him playing like that.
Why not Timber on the RB side? White should have to fight for his spot just like Tierney would.
Problem is Tierney has not had a proper chance, Zinchenko started last year whenever healthy regardless of his poor form.
Sometimes you need a defender at LB against good teams. Zinchenko will never be a defender.
Pep learned his shortcomings, and we saw it ourselves last year. He is the weak link defensively, and was the focal point of opponents attacks numerous times last year.
Hopefully we see open and fair competition, but I’m skeptical players like Zinchenko, Jesus, Saka, Ramsdale, will ever get dropped due to bad form.
We saw Tierney rarely start, Trossard immediately benched when Jesus returned, and Turner never competing in goal.
keeping zinchenko on the lb in a defensive game is something dareful because the lad is too weak defensively and is always much attack minded giving the opponent a chance to penetrate easily into the defense hence causing harm. So to my opinion Tierney should take on the lb assited by zinchenko and Timber now be B.white’s competitor on the rb bse if he(white) is off form the who is to challenge
Jurrien Timber haven’t play in EPL yet. So no judgements yet. If he goes not hard enough, he will eaten alive by the opponents. If he goes too hard, he will be eaten alive by the referees. That’s the hurdle against Arsenal FC in EPL. Timber is solid, no doubt, but he lacks the creativity and flair of Zinchenko. The Ukrainian will be hard to dislodge especially when Rice comes in to mop up the left side. Let’s see how these group of players play together and bring much needed success to the club.
I don’t think Timber will be used as LB. The only reason Arteta used him there last time out was to confuse Pep & future opponents
We all knw Pep is a master in studying opponents & finds ways to neutralize their strengths. IMO i think Timber will start as the inverted RB come Sunday & Tierney on the left as a conventiol fullback
The team i predict:-
Timber White Saliba Tierney
Havertz Rice
Saka Odegaardt Martinelli
Nkethia
2nd half:
White Kiwior Gabriel Tierney
Partey Havertz
Saka Odegaardt Trossard
Nkethia