Timber’s arrival can take White’s game to the next level
Fans were delighted to finally see the confirmation of the deal for Jurrien Timber, who will switch Amsterdam for London in a £40million agreement.
It was massive news for not just the club’s faithful but also a certain Arsenal player: Ben White.
The Englishman was Mikel Arteta’s first choice rightback last season, where he went onto play 46 times for the Gunners.
However, after the arrival of Timber from Ajax, many have questioned whether the position that White has made his own, is in jeopardy.
Given how Ben White has transformed his offensive game as FB under Arteta, I'm excited about the levels Timber can reach.
Many have covered his ability to invert but he has got a phenomenal engine on him with an underrated delivery from the wings.
— S (@STFootball10) July 14, 2023
But to look at the situation from a different side, the competition from the Dutchman can elevate the level of the England international. Many would agree when I say that the 25-year-old hasn’t yet justified the price that the North London outfit paid for him in the summer of 2021.
Despite playing majorly as a right-sided centerback all his career, Arteta’s tactical philosophy of preferring inverted fullbacks rather than the conventional fullbacks in his system, can push Timber to that role.
And the youngster has better qualities to play in that role than White, as the former is not just a better passer of the ball, but the 22yo can defend better and can even hit the flanks, if he is asked to.
The Dutchman is a more rounded player than the former Brighton man. And that is something which will certainly be a cause of worry for White.
If he just takes the competition in his stride, then few people would doubt the ability of the Englishman. But on several occasions, rocks break when put under extreme pressure.
If White does not want to be in Kieran Tierney’s shoes, he needs to iron out the qualities that has been lacking in his game.
Only time will tell whether the 25-year-old is truly capable of surviving the pressures that comes with playing for a big club like Arsenal.
Many will be confident that he will come out on top. But many would still scratch their heads when asked whether he can survive in North London.
Writer – Yash Bisht
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Competition is good, we’ve had very little of that.
Arteta wants white back at CB.
Osheee! Arteta second in command.
Why should Ben White worried, the doesn’t dish his hand pick players dirt.
“Many would agree when I say that the 25-year-old hasn’t yet justified the price that the North London outfit paid for him in the summer of 2021”
I’m not sure too many still would – white was clearly one of our best players last season, and certainly our most consistent (imo at least). I don’t think he has too much to worry about, he’s definitely highly thought of by the manager, and if timber does prove better at RB, white’s shown he can adapt to new positions and tactics, so there will always be opportunities for him to play. It could be that arteta accommodates both by changing to a back 3, or one of them moves into midfield, for example. Overall though, I expect timber has been bought with a long, tough season in mind, so both will be needed either in rotation to allow for recovery or when covering for injuries.
I assume you have watched Timber on numerous occasions to back up your assertion that he is superior to White , but time will tell if your assessment is correct, or otherwise.As it is,I think they are both very fine young players and it would not surprise me if they are both played by Arteta at the expense of others.
Timber was the league best player last season, and yes I know some will say the league is not too strong but it takes a lot of doing for a full back to be the best player in a league. I think Timber will be first choice Nd White will be Saliba back up because there’s no way white will bench Saliba.
White will be starting at right back beginning of the season, he’s the main man.
Not sure how white should be worried ,he was easily one of our best performers last season ,that’s why I find the timber transfer odd .
But apparently Arteta is a magician so he obviously will be pulling something out of his hat .
In my opinion you are over critical of White’s ability. I think Arteta’s approach is to have a pool of defenders he can rely on and who can also be adaptable. Every player Arteta signs should be competing for a place in tge first team, we needed the competition and the strength in depth.
Not a chance should White be worried, I had him as our most improved player last season.
Timber has been bought for his flexibility because he can play numerous positions in the defensive third.
I keep hearing that if anyone should be worried it should be Partey and Tommy as he supplies cover for the defensive right and can play as a holding midfielder and the more I hear about him it wouldn’t surprise me that he is trained to be a DM by MA.
As much as it pains me to say it… I’m loving the Artedu transfer policy at the moment. The flexibility he has at his disposal is quite frightening, I just hope he sees the tools at his disposal to change games as last season we were limited to just Plan A.
If he is clever as most are claiming, we could have a team that can supply plan A all the way to Plan K as I can give a multitude of formations and tactics that can be implemented by this very young team… but I’m no coach.
This transfer window has blown my mind and I’m counting down the days when the season starts.
TEAM A –
Jesus.
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Havertz. Rice.
Zinchenko. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Ramsdale.
TEAM B –
Nketiah.
Trossard. Fabio. Nelson.
Partey. Jorginho.
Tierney. Kiwior. Timber. Tomiyasu.
Turner.
What’s the verdict on Smith-Rowe, Balogun, Elneny????
Hmmmm…. Elneny will be a token player next season. Kind of Rob Holding bit part minutes. I’m expecting to see more of ESR next season.
Balogun… I will be surprised if he will be an Arsenal player before the Nottingham Forest game as he has made it quite clear that he wants to stay and fight for his place… I just don’t see the minutes he requires, so I think his hand will be forced especially with only 2 years on his vontract left.
Regarding your formations, if Partey stays he will playing in team A as a double pivot with Rice. Havertz, Trossard and Nelson will alternate with the midfield three that you show.
In addition, Havertz can be effective as part of a front 2 with Jesus or Nketiah (Bergkamp & Wright anyone).
As I said in my post above, with the players at our disposal there are a multitude of options that we can utilise.
It is now down to MA to show what he is really capable of as lack of depth, talent and strength will not be an acceptable excuse as we have quality, versatility and experience in each position.
No way Vieira beats out ESR, Vieira should worry about the youth coming up because that’s his level.
Not sure I’d give Nketiah the backup role, Balogun may have a say with his play.
Fabio over Smith-Rowe. No now.
Obviously Im excited by Timber, but there’s way too much hype around his signing.
Players coming to England from the Eredivisie, usually flop, especially in recent years. Gakpo, Anthony look pretty awful so far, and although Martinez was looking solid before his injury, he wasn’t great earlier in the season.
Hey Admin, has my comments been banned (not that I get any feedback) but my responses seems to have not been uploaded. Sorry, if I may have offended anyone.
Both are totally different players. In a balance first eleven, Zinchenko and Timber might not play together. White is better defensively, got aerial presence and more composed while over lapping. Timber is more physical, direct and can invert if replicate Zinchenko on the right. White better at low block and Timber is better man marking. The profile of the left and right defence is so different and unique. Beautiful.
I feel like I watched different games last season. White overlapped a bit, but “inverted” a lot as well. Most of his best moments were passes he made from odegaard’s starting position, to my mind.
I haven’t watched him, but my understanding is that timber played virtually all of his games at CB last year – he just seems like someone who could fill in several roles, just like white.
I’m sure there will be further differences, but timber looks faster and more athletic, and a better dribbler than white, but i expect white is a better passer, or at least not worse, and he’s taller and slightly better in the air (though I don’t think either are superb). In terms of what they offer positionally, though, I’m expecting them to be very similar.
Ben White played a big part in the success of Saka during last season. In fact Saka`s form went backwards during the latter part of the season but Ben White continued to do well. Cant believe that Artetta will drop him. Timber will be brought down to earth when he starts to play at this level !!
Nobody said Arteta will drop him. He will be put back to his favoured position and fight for his place, just like he would at RB. Arteta played White at RB because he had Nobody else, he eants him pushing for CB, thats what we signed him for. That isn’t saying he wont play RB as cover like he did last season.