Jurrien Timber - Player Profile | Where Will the Dutchman Fit at Arsenal?

Arsenal completed the signing of Ajax defender Jurrien Timber last month. The Dutchman was announced as their second signing of the 2023 summer transfer window, having signed German attacker Kai Havertz from Chelsea earlier in July.

Manager Mikel Arteta was desperate to add defensive depth to his ranks this summer. The North London side fell short on defensive options last season after crucial players got sidelined because of long-term injuries and the need was clearly visible.

Jurrien Timber has been brought on to boost their sqaud depth. Arsenal signed the Dutch centre-back for a reported fee of £34.3m plus £4.3m in potential add-ons. The 22-year-old won the “Footballer of the Year” award in the Eredivisie in 2022. He was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United last summer, but a transfer failed to materialize.

Arsenal, Jurrien Timber — Image Obtained Via talkSPORT

Jurrien Timber has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal. The Netherlands international explained why he chose to move to the Emirates:

“I can see a lot of similarities, especially in the way Arsenal and Ajax want to play,”

“Of course, this is a bigger league and everything is bigger here, I can see that immediately. This is the way they teach you in the youth already, and I’m happy I got to learn that at Ajax.

“I think also that’s the reason they bought me and they want me, because they know I can play this style. And now it’s for me to show everyone and also in the Premier League that I can do the same things.”

He also revealed that he can play in three positions: centre-back, right-back and occasionally in the midfield.

Player Career

Jurrien Timber came through the ranks of the famed Ajax youth academy. He made his first-team debut in March 2020 in a 3-1 win against SC Heerenveen. The Dutchman became more involved in Erik ten Hag’s system in the 2020-21 season. He was mainly used as a centre-back alongside Daley Blind or Lisandro Martinez. He made 29 appearances that season and also managed to score one goal (stats via Transfermarkt).

Jurrien Timber, Erik ten Hag — Image obtained via (Angelo Blankespoor/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The Dutchman caught the attention of many top clubs for his role with the Ajax team in the 2021-22 season. He was used as the right-centre back, alongside Blind, Martinez, and Noussair Mazraoui. Ten Hag’s fluid 4-2-3-1 often took the shape of a back-3 in possession. This meant that the defender functioned as a hybrid right-back, allowing Mazraoui to roam higher up the field.

Ten Hag also allowed the 22-year-old Dutch defender to step into the midfield and demonstrate his capabilities on the ball regularly. He won the Eredivisie “Player of the Year” award after scoring three goals and creating two in 30 games.

Ajax had a turbulent 2022-23 season after the departure of Erik ten Hag. His replacement Alfred Schreuder was sacked mid-season as they missed out on the league title and Champions League spot. Timber was used exclusively as a centre-back in a back-four, but was unable to elevate his side’s performances.

Role at Arsenal

Arsenal had great success with their defensive combination last season. Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko worked perfectly as the inverted full-backs in the system. William Saliba and Gabriel gave Arteta the left-foot/right-foot combination at the central defence too. Keiran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jakub Kiwior provide quality depth.

As a profile, Jurrien Timber is similar to Ben White or William Saliba. He is an aggressive and proactive defender and possesses good speed and reading of the game. The Dutch defender is confident at receiving the ball and carrying it into the opponent’s half. He also has a great passing range and composure under pressure.

The 22-year-old probably arrives as a backup to the centre-backs and right-back position. However, fans can definitely expect him to consolidate himself in the starting line-up soon. Profiles like Timber and Kiwior offer Arteta greater tactical flexibility too.

Last season, the Spaniard largely used White as a third centre-back, with Zinchenko inverting into the midfield. The centre-backs largely held onto their natural positions. However, both Timber and Kiwior are very good on the ball, and capable of playing in the midfield. This would allow Arteta to take a page out of Pep Guardiola’s book.

The Manchester City boss has enjoyed phenomenal success by using John Stones as a pseudo-midfielder. Arteta could try to replicate a similar set-up this season. This would also give Arsenal more stability in the midfield, as Rice and Havertz are a more attacking combo than Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka.

How can Arsenal fit Jurrien Timber in the squad? Let us know in the comments.

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