Transfer Talk: Arsenal turn to Timber to build stronger defence

William Saliba's injury was arguably the biggest single factor behind Arsenal's inability to win the Premier League title last season.

The Gunners lacked the quality depth that Manchester City were able to call upon in the closing weeks of the campaign — but the potential signing of Jurrien Timber goes some way to addressing that problem.

Timber, set to arrive from Ajax, is one of the outstanding young centre-backs in Europe but can also play at right-back or in holding midfield.

With Champions League football returning to the Emirates next term, beefing up the squad with this kind of quality is a good sign for the Gunners.

Brain over brawn

Twelve months ago, Timber's height — 5ft 10in — might have put Arsenal off this move.

But the Dutchman has former Ajax centre-back partner Lisandro Martinez to thank for proving that brain beats brawn in the Premier League.

Martinez was dismissed as too short when he first signed for Manchester United, particularly after a shaky start, but has used his leap and timing to overcome his stature.

Ronald de Boer, who coached Timber in the Ajax youth system, told The Athletic: "He has to be smart, he has to think a few steps ahead.

"Look at Martinez, everyone thought he wasn't big enough or strong enough, but he’s been one of the revelations of Manchester United. You have guys who can handle it."

Ajax upbringing

Arteta should relish working with a player he knows will understand his complex instructions.

Ajax players are notoriously tactically aware and Timber has played most of his senior football under Erik ten Hag, another boss with sophisticated ideas.

His former Netherlands Under-17s boss Kees van Wonderen said: "Some players you need to tell things over and over again, but he [Timber] understands really quickly.

"He combines his technical ability with his mindset and his tactical awareness on the pitch. That's so important in the modern player."

The Netherlands international appears the perfect fit for a system that asks defenders to pick up unconventional positions in possession.

Total football

Timber's use of the ball was outstanding in the last Eredivisie season.

Renowned for his understanding of when and where to take risks, the 22-year-old played by far the highest number of passes of all centre-backs in the Dutch top flight and also completed the second-most dribbles.

That same understanding of the game comes across in his defending, too.

He ranked fifth for interceptions and ninth for tackles among his positional rivals.

Master of all trades

While Timber arrives as a top-class central defender, it is not clear whether he would break up Arsenal's Saliba-Gabriel partnership.

More likely, Arteta will take advantage of his new acquisition's versatility, dropping him in at right-back, centre-back and even holding midfield when the first-choice incumbents need a rest.

In the long run, Timber's comfort in several areas of the pitch is bound to land him a regular starting spot, though.

He seems an ideal fit to mirror the inverted full-back role that Oleksandr Zinchenko played from the left side last season.

The youngster is also a candidate to fulfil the hybrid position between defence and midfield that John Stones made his own for Manchester City.

Whatever Arteta's plan, he can be confident Timber will excel.