Adrian Clarke looks at summer signings and what impact they will have at their new clubs.
Player analysis: Jurrien Timber
Netherlands international Timber looks tailor-made for Arsenal.
A confident and progressive distributor, he made more forward passes than any other player in the Eredivisie for Ajax last season.
The 22-year-old is also adept at playing in multiple positions, another trait that pleases Mikel Arteta.
"He is a versatile young defender, who will fit into our system and provide our squad with so much added quality," Arteta told Arsenal's official website.
JT12 ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Y3on2ZcKWC
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 14, 2023
A mirror of Zinchenko
Primarily a centre-back, Timber also has experience playing on the right of a back three, and as a right-back.
Arsenal’s newest young talent naturally enjoys receiving possession in central midfield areas, too, and from there he was a pivotal part of Ajax’s build-up play.
Do not be surprised if Arteta asks Timber to sometimes mirror Oleksandr Zinchenko’s inverted full-back role from the other side.
As shown on this 2022/23 season touch map from Opta Analyst, he was frequently on the ball in midfield for his previous club.
Timber's open-play touch map
“I think that I'm lucky to say that I can play as a central defender, as a right full-back, sometimes even on the midfield,” Timber told Arsenal's official website. “So I think that's a good thing and I need to keep that.
“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."
Jurrien Timber x Arsenal: Written in the stars 💫 https://t.co/tYutl2vbyN
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 14, 2023
Similar to Saliba
Timber has quickly established himself as a defender who likes to travel forward with the ball, or to make quality passes in the direction of the opposition goal.
His 487 progressive ball carries totalled 5.037 km in domestic action for Ajax across last season, a figure way in advance of anybody else in the Eredivisie.
He also led the way for forward passes in the Dutch top flight, recording 902 in just 34 matches, averaging 26.5 per match.
While it was perhaps easier to make those passes in a weaker division, Timber’s average did eclipse William Saliba, who led the way with 24.55 forward passes per match for Arsenal.
If Timber does provide cover for Saliba in that right-side centre-back role, it appears they are stylistically very similar in the choices they make in possession.
Timber's Eredivisie stats 2022/23
| Statistic | Total | Ajax rank |
|---|---|---|
| Touches | 3129 | 1st |
| Succ. passes | 2501 | 1st |
| Forward passes | 902 | 1st |
| Succ. passes into final third | 544 | 9th |
| Pass accuracy % | 92 | 14th |
Timber will always try to move the ball forward when he can and if spaces open up ahead of him, he is not afraid to drive into it.
These qualities will have appealed greatly to Arteta and his attacking mentality.
Height a weakness?
Timber stands 5ft 10in, which is small compared to most central defenders.
This does negatively impact his ability to win aerial duels and may be perceived as a weakness by Arsenal’s opponents in 2023/24.
Arteta could look at this and decide to use Timber more often at right-back, where he will not be directly up against as many potential aerial threats.
Wherever he is played, though, Timber has a terrific reading of the game and boasts excellent recovery pace, which will suit Arsenal's pressing game.
Timber will strengthen Arsenal in the upcoming season and for many years ahead.