Jurrien Timber is back in full force to make up for the long time lost due to injury. The Dutchman joined Arsenal from Ajax last summer to bolster the defence, and the initial plan was for him to play at right-back, with Ben White needing competition for the position and Oleksandr Zinchenko seen as the first-choice left-back. But Arteta surprised many by starting Timber at left-back against Nottingham Forest in the opening game of last season.
In that 2-1 win, disaster struck as Timber suffered a serious rupture to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, requiring surgery. He was not seen by fans again until Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Everton on the final day of last season. Timber played just the final 20 minutes of Arsenal’s opening win over Wolves last month, but has started every game since then, and on Sunday played the full 90 minutes for the first time this season in the north London derby win over Tottenham.
Timber has established himself at left-back and has been a strong addition to Arsenal’s defence, which has conceded just once in the league, after a player was sent off and they were reduced to 10 men against Brighton.
The big-money signing of former Bologna star Riccardo Calafiori, who can play at left-back, may suggest that Timber’s playing time in that position will be limited, but Timber is a solid performer who enables Mikel Arteta to execute his game plan, which requires the full-backs to step forward and cut inside to assist the single pivot who plays in Arteta’s preferred 4-3-3.
Arsenal may not have had the most possession in the Premier League this season – their 46.7 per cent possession puts them 11th in this statistic, although their defensive display against Tottenham has had a big impact on that – but they have shown that they are not easily penetrable, and one reason for that is the sheer effort Timber puts in on the pitch, both on and off the ball. As he showed against Tottenham, Timber’s determination means he can win the ball back from the opposition, which helps Arsenal transition from defence to attack with great speed.
Furthermore, Timber’s one-on-one approach to the game means he has the edge over most players, with the statistics suggesting he has only been dribbled past once in his four Premier League appearances this season. His physicality is impressive, and he can also play the supporting role when Arsenal push forward, with Timber and White dropping deep to provide support. It helps to have a strong safety net in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of the backline, while the full-backs have the pace to drop back when needed.
Perhaps most importantly, Timber and White are comfortable on the ball when Arsenal need to recycle possession. Furthermore, Timber’s willingness to get forward – he ranks fifth for touches in the box (nine) and fourth for successful dribbles (four) of all Arsenal players in the Premier League – means he makes it difficult for opponents to predict how they will play, which is vital against teams that rely on a defensive structure.
Left-back was a big problem area for Arsenal last season, with no fewer than four players – including Timber – playing in the position in the Premier League. Now the Dutchman is the first choice in the position, combining Zinchenko’s ability on the ball with the defensive strength of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior, and the drive to find a way past the opposition goal.
Arsenal don’t always see Timber as a way to get forward from the back – 21 per cent of their attacks have come down the left this season, the lowest in the league – but he’s always been a useful option when they need to find a way to break down an opposition defence. Arsenal waited six months before signing Timber, and although he was out for a year before he got back to fitness, he’s proved worth the wait and a solid addition to Arsenal’s bid to dethrone Manchester City.
* Guardian Service
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