If anyone had any reservations as to whether Timber would be able to adapt to Arsenal’s style of play, then just minutes into his cameo against the All-Stars, they were washed away.
Timber looked a class above. Playing inverted in the Zinchenko role but on the right-hand side, Timber was composed with the ball at his feet; he picked passes at will and got forward at every opportunity.
Additionally, his willingness to do the “dirty” side of the game was on show as well as he never shirked a tackle and often won the ball back with ease.
It was only a small sample size, but Timber looks like a real find…already.
pic.twitter.com/F6usAamsEP
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1681855600420958208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>The only issue was Leandro Trossard picking up an injury, but post-game, Mikel Arteta stated that he doesn’t think it’s anything “big,” and he was taken off as a precaution.</p>
<p>Arsenal looked ready for Premier League action as the All-Stars were brushed aside with ruthless efficiency.</p>
<p>The game provided plenty of talking points; here they are.</p>
<h2>William Saliba back is good for Arsenal</h2>
<p>The French star showed exactly why the Gunners wanted to sign him to a long-term deal. When on the pitch, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/12/arsenal-expectations-everything-william-saliba-declan-rice-tranfer-window/">Saliba did everything he needed to as he was a calming influence at the heart of Arsenal’s defense.</p>
<p>The fact that Saliba started the game and played decent minutes hopefully means the back issue that ruled him out of the last stretch of the Premier League season last year is now resolved.</p>
<p>It might be only preseason, but my word Saliba looked ominous.</p>
<p><em>Continued on 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/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #2 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-135432 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1554821825-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1554821825-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1554821825-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1554821825-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1554821825-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 18: Jurriën Timber #12 and Folarin Balogun #26 of Arsenal FC speak during the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge between Arsenal FC and MLS All-Stars at Audi Field on July 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Jurrien Timber is a class act</h2>
<p>If anyone had any reservations as to whether Timber would be able to adapt to Arsenal’s style of play, then just minutes into his cameo against the All-Stars, they were washed away.</p>
<p>Timber looked a class above. Playing inverted in the Zinchenko role but on the right-hand side, Timber was composed with the ball at his feet; he picked passes at will and got forward at every opportunity.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">First game, first steps in the Arsenal jersey ✨ <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://t.co/GrB4oy3g5t">pic.twitter.com/GrB4oy3g5t
<p>— Jurrien Timber (@JurrienTimber) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://twitter.com/JurrienTimber/status/1681933507688267776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Additionally, his willingness to do the “dirty” side of the game was on show as well as he never shirked a tackle and often won the ball back with ease.</p>
<p>It was only a small sample size, but Timber looks like a real find…already.</p>
<p><em>Continued on 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/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_135423" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-135423 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1101,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1556938502.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1101" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1556938502.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1556938502-768x528.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1556938502-1536x1057.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 19: Bukayo Saka #7 of Arsenal FC controls the ball as Álvaro Barreal #31 of the MLS-All Stars defends during the MLS All-Star Game at Audi Field on July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Jesus and Saka in form already</h2>
<p>It was normal service resumed for Gabriel Jesus and <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/06/arsenal-bukayo-saka-best-winger-world-espn/">Bukayo Saka</a> in the first half as the duo did as they pleased.</p>
<p>Jesus produced a superb moment of brilliance as he opened the scoring with an impressive chip, while Saka was unplayable as he tormented the All-Stars’ defense. Saka had a hand in both first-half goals as he set up Jesus and then Trossard as he did as he pleased.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No stopping that one from <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://twitter.com/gabrieljesus9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@gabrieljesus9.
#MLSAllStar</a> Game pres. by <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://twitter.com/Target?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@Target <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://t.co/pA80fk2ufT">pic.twitter.com/pA80fk2ufT
<p>— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/21/mls-all-stars-arsenal-talking-points-gunners-william-saliba/2/"https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1681827394770948096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Yes, it is only preseason, but Jesus and Saka already look set to take on Nottingham Forest in the season opener.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
