Mikel Arteta has clearly carefully scouted Jurrien Timber to ensure he will have a crucial place in his Arsenal team for the 2023/24 campaign.
Jurrien Timber looks set to be a valuable addition to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal team after comments from the player himself on his best position. In the 2022/23 season with Ajax,Timber played most games at right-back but in previous campaigns and for the Netherlands, he has been deployed in the centre of defence.
ThɾօυɢҺ playing as a full-back in Ajax’s system, which gives him the freedom to invert, Timber has developed a unique skill which not many defєɴԀers have at such a high level and his tactical versatility makes him the perfect signing for Arteta.
Based on that trait, the Gunners had earmarked Timber as their top defensive target for the summer window in June with reinforcements desperately needed at the back.An opening bid of £30million was rєjєƈτed by Ajax but negotiations continued after Arsenal increased their offer before a move was finalised, worth €40million (£34.2million) with a potential further €5million (£4.3million) in add-ons.
In the video announcing his transfer to Emirates Stadium,Timber’s own admission on why he chose to sign for Arsenal spoke significant volumes. He said: “I really had a sense that it had to be a team that plays in the right way. A club that has the right values. That develops young talent and has an unbreakable bond with its supporters. Now that I’m here I feel at home already. Something special is happening here and I want to be a part of it.”
The first part of Timber’s interview withArsenal club mediahas also been released where his versatility is discussed. Asked specifically about his favoured position, Timber offered a clear response that will undoubtedly be exactly what Arsenal supporters wanted to hear.
He said: “For me it doesn’t really matter, I think that I’m lucky to say that I can play as a central defєɴԀer, as a right full-back, sometimes even on the midfield. So I think that’s a good thing and I need to keep that.
On making the switch to north London, he added: “I just like the way Arsenal play, is a bit similar to Ajax’s style and I like to play from the back. I can see a lot of similarities, especially in the way Arsenal and Ajax want to play.”
Timber also looks to have the approval of Arteta on his positional claim. “He said the same thing so we are on the same page,” the defєɴԀer ɾєⱱєɑłєԀ on the topic of his chats with Arteta. “I spoke to him a couple of times before I came here obviously and we had some good conversations.”
