By Harvey Gration
For anyone thinking the end of the football season meant passing time listlessly refreshing football twitter… think again.
My name is Harvey Gration, a new writer here at WLYA, and I am both honoured and delighted to be offered such a platform to cast an insightful eye over our beloved Arsenal.
But now to Mikel Arteta’s men, and a potential new inductee in Jurrien Timber. On top of (all but) agreeing a fee for Declan Rice and completing the signing of Kai Havertz, it seems we have arrived at fever pitch. In my first article, I will provide an in-depth scouting report on the Ajax man, and how his profile is tailored for Arteta’s system as an inverted fullback.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s injury towards the end of last season saw Arteta switch to a more right-sided bias in his 3-2-5 shape in possession, with Thomas Partey inverting from right back into midfield. Although most frequently used as a RCB for Ajax, Timber has also been deployed at right back and in defensive midfield. Already used to occupying the natural areas of an inverted fullback, let’s see how his skillset suits such a role…
On the ball, Timber’s ability to receive against a press, using his powerful and agile frame to shield the ball and turn out of tight areas makes him a press resisting machine. Able to draw in an opposing press, manipulate body angles (akin to the equally graceful William Saliba), building from the back is made so much more efficient.
This physical profiling is more important than you may think. Timber is a diverse option to our other right hand defensive assets: Ben White, Takheiro Tomiyasu, and Thomas Partey. All three are supremely confident on the ball, but Timber’s shorter frame provides him with an elite, wider turning circle in midfield areas. Partner this with his level of ball control, and sides will have a hard time dispossessing the 22 year old. It is, however, worth noting that Arteta may have to temper Timber's occasional over-eagerness in possession.
After beating the press, the Dutchman also excels in playing with the ball in front of him, helping to ensure control further up the pitch as well. Whether carrying the ball purposefully, or breaking the lines with passes, Timber boasts an impressive progressive repertoire. One thing I must caveat this with is that he doesn’t have the vertical passing range of a Thomas Partey, or Ben White’s switches of play; however, with a player like Rice next to you in a pivot, this isn’t a necessity.
We certainly haven’t become used to Partey pinging diagonals on a regular basis, and this is simply because such a thing isn’t required. The primary task for a 6, a defender inverting into midfield, or a no. 8 dropping deeper, is having a high number of touches to secure settled possession. Timber and Rice as a pair will have this pass and touch volume, along with the progressive skills to run games for Arsenal in a composed manner.
Having said this, control isn’t just acquired through on the ball actions, it is earned. What do I mean? Well, in those tough, imposing away grounds, we as Arsenal fans have come to bemoan in recent history, you need to “earn the right to play”. This is a quote we constantly hear from Arteta, and it is Timber’s defensive assurance 1v1, in transition, and in intensive pressing that makes him not just a role player but someone who can elevate us collectively.
Let’s begin with his 1v1 duel suitability. His rapid covering of the ground, bustling build with long, elastic legs make him a perfect defender to cover large spaces out wide. For instance, Partey was occasionally found lacking when forced to defend in a back four out of possession.
Timber has a high level of tenacity, a keenness to go to ground, and bravery in those isolated moments that all support inverting into midfield or covering as a wide RCB for Ben White. One thing White has improved vastly on is his courage and aggression when defending wide. Again, Timber must be restrained somewhat in this aspect, as he likes to leave a back line to press an opposition’s midfield. But as a RB out of possession, this will allow him to hone his skills better.
Timber’s impressive tackling and mobility means he excels in duels centrally as well. Think a Moises Caicedo, in Timber’s springy tackling, or a Mohamed Simakan from RB Leipzig. Both reported Arsenal targets, one able to invert into midfield and the other a wide RCB; this versatility is part of the reason why Timber is a great bit of business. Arteta is signing a flexible ground coverer that is also a cool, composed, and immense duel winner. Timber's skillset and profile could even allow him to play in a pivot, joining our attack as a 6th man at times.
Intriguingly, he has often found himself making late runs into the box from deep for Ajax, and certainly presents more dynamic movement into the Arsenal midfield…
This dynamism translates to our defence as a whole. The press and counter press are integral to Arteta’s style of play, shown by the intelligent turnovers and lane blocking we see in our midfield currently. Timber allows us to press with a more aggressive ball-winning approach to match the front line. What’s more, his energy that can springboard attacks can also help us defending in transition. Timber can change direction rapidly, and the proposition of Timber, Rice, White, Saliba, Gabriel, etc., all defending in our 3-2, 2-3, or 3-1 axis is mouth-watering.
Finally, I wanted to touch on a more intangible point, Timber’s mindset. From what I’ve seen at Ajax, he is another defender with that ‘clutch’ mentality. Whether a last man tackle or block, Arteta seems to adore players who put their bodies on the line and never give up defensively. A trivial point? Maybe. But this is something Mikel clearly values highly, and this mental frame of mind is an integral part of Timber as a player.
With such a skillset, Timber will be a top player to deputise for Ben White at wide RCB, but hopefully you can see how he suits inverting from right back into midfield even more. Clearly there will be an acclimatising phase as there always is in the Premier League, but Timber has all the qualities a scout looks for to adjust.
As you can probably tell, this is a signing I am all over. Arteta’s talent ID has identified another piece to the Arsenal puzzle and has the potential to prove another market masterstroke.
Thank you so much for reading, again a pleasure to begin my career as a WLYA writer. If you would like more, I have a newly created YouTube channel- Harvey Gration, with my other socials below :)
Twitter: @GrationHarvey
TikTok: harveygrationtok
Here’s to an exciting Arsenal summer!
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