Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was reportedly signed to be a right-back first and foremost, even though he now seems to have established himself more and more as Mikel Arteta’s first choice left-back.
The versatile Dutchman can play to a high standard on both sides, while he’s also had spells playing as a centre-back, so it’s not surprising to see that he’s become a really useful player for the Gunners since coming back from a lengthy injury that kept him out for almost the entire 2023/24 campaign.
According to the Evening Standard, Timber was initially seen as a right-back for Arsenal, with the former Ajax man brought in to compete with and cover for Ben White on that side of the back four.
Now, however, it seems clear that White is pretty much undroppable in this Arsenal side, whereas Oleksandr Zinchenko has fallen down the pecking order slightly, having suffered a bit of a dip in form last season, which saw Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu occasionally fill in for him.
Timber certainly looks a more solid option on the left than Zinchenko, even if the Ukraine international also has his qualities that he brings to the team.
The former Manchester City man is known for being highly technical and intelligent on the ball, drifting into midfield as a perfect example of a modern inverted full-back.
Timber, however, might get the nod for the time being due to how strong he is defensively, with the 23-year-old proving a key performer for AFC in impressive recent away wins at Aston Villa and Tottenham.
One imagines that’s precisely the kind of work rate and positioning Arteta will want in the upcoming game away to Manchester City next weekend, with Pep Guardiola’s side sure to be of only very few teams who will dominate the ball more than Arsenal this season.
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