Timber is a progressive defender with the ball at his feet. (Photo by Patrick Goosen/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
2. Elite in possession
Arsenal’s build-up was transformed by William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko last season, with the drop-off stark when these two weren’t in the starting XI.
Timber, like each member of Arteta’s favoured back four, is superb with the ball at his feet and has gained much veneration for his composure in possession and passing range.
The Dutchman is comfortable driving out of defence if space is afforded to him, and he’s capable of delivering intricate passes in the final third akin to a bona fide playmaker. Timber made, on average, 9.8 passes into the final third per game in the Eredivisie last season.
Nobody averaged more touches per game in the Dutch top-flight than the 22-year-old last season (90.5), depicting his influence in possession and willingness to receive the ball at any given moment.
While there may be an initial baptism of fire after arriving in the Premier League, Timber’s natural grace and confidence in possession will swiftly shine through in Arteta’s sound structure.
Continued on the next slide…
pic.twitter.com/QrmSAs5VK7
<p>— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-arsenal-making-move-timber/2/"https://twitter.com/Gunnersc0m/status/1671040326184718338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>June 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>1. Positional flexibility</h2>
<p>Why don’t we hand it over to current United and former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to explain why Mikel Arteta is so keen on signing the versatile right-back this summer? In 2022, before he took the United job, Ten Hag said: “He [Timber] could even play at left-back or in central midfield.</p>
<p>“He will not immediately be the leader of the Ajax first team, but he dares to speak out immediately and has not been shy in the dressing room. Those are important qualities to get far.”</p>
<p>While the youngster’s leadership will undoubtedly be valued, the key point here is the defender’s positional flexibility. Timber has played in a multitude of roles during his young senior career so far, and we know how much Arteta appreciates such versatility.</p>
<p>The Dutchman primarily operated as a centre-back last season, but he’s also comfortable playing as both a right- and left-back and has started a game as a defensive midfielder. He’s adept anywhere across the back four and very effective when utilised as a right centre-back in a back three when his side has possession.</p>
<p>At Arsenal, Timber could provide cover for Ben White at right-back, William Saliba at right centre-back, and possibly perform Oleksandr Zinchenko’s inverted function – if the 2022/23 possession structure is maintained.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-arsenal-making-move-timber/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 reason Arsenal are moving for Timber </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135105" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-135105" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-arsenal-making-move-timber/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1255270903-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1255270903-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1255270903-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1255270903-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1255270903-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Timber is a progressive defender with the ball at his feet. (Photo by Patrick Goosen/BSR Agency/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>2. Elite in possession</h2>
<p>Arsenal’s build-up was transformed by William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko last season, with the drop-off stark when these two weren’t in the starting XI.</p>
<p>Timber, like each member of Arteta’s favoured back four, is superb with the ball at his feet and has gained much veneration for his composure in possession and passing range.</p>
<p>The Dutchman is comfortable driving out of defence if space is afforded to him, and he’s capable of delivering intricate passes in the final third akin to a bona fide playmaker. Timber made, on average, 9.8 passes into the final third per game in the Eredivisie last season.</p>
<p>Nobody averaged more touches per game in the Dutch top-flight than the 22-year-old last season <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-arsenal-making-move-timber/2/"https://fbref.com/en/players/41034650/Jurrien-Timber">(90.5), depicting his influence in possession and willingness to receive the ball at any given moment.</p>
<p>While there may be an initial baptism of fire after arriving in the Premier League, Timber’s natural grace and confidence in possession will swiftly shine through in Arteta’s sound structure.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-arsenal-making-move-timber/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 reason Arsenal are moving for Timber </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_134459" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-134459" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/06/21/3-reasons-arsenal-making-move-timber/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1707,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1487138044-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487138044-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487138044-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487138044-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1487138044-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Could Mikel Arteta use two inverted full-backs? (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>3. Potential structure change?</h2>
<p>Arsenal’s possession structure was crucial to their success last season, with the arrival of Zinchenko allowing the Gunners to dominate in central areas and control the dynamic of contests.</p>
<p>Arteta set his side up in a 3-2-5 configuration with Zinchenko forming a midfield two with the number six – either Thomas Partey or Jorginho. This allowed Arsenal to often overload and overwhelm teams in the build-up phase, while also ensuring their two young wingers were isolated one-on-one against their respective full-backs. Going the other way, Arsenal’s coherent structure protected them against the counter-attack.</p>
<p>And while Timber could perform several roles within this structure, namely White or Saliba’s, his arrival could allow Arteta to deploy two inverted full-backs. This is fairly common among preachers of positional play, with the two full-backs – instead of only one – sitting alongside the number six in midfield. This would hand Arsenal even greater control in midfield, but it could put more strain on the two centre-backs both with and without the ball, and potentially reduce the efficacy of the full-back/winger relationship.</p>
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<p>Nevertheless, Timber’s flexibility and stellar work with the ball hands Arteta greater scope to change tack if necessary. The boss could use the Dutchman in myriad ways, and supporters would no longer need to fret about potentially losing White, or even Saliba, to injury. Timber’s that good.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
