Jurrien Timber Ready to Fill Three Positions After Joining Arsenal
Arsenal have completed the signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax, with the 22-year-old Dutch international ready to fill in across three positions for the Gunners.
The £38million move was confirmed on Friday afternoon, and Timber is confident that his versatility will be a great asset for Mikel Arteta’s side. He has starred at centre-half for Ajax over the last two seasons, but can also play at right-back and in midfield.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes formed a partnership at the heart of Arsenal’s defence last season, but the Frenchman’s injury woes at the end of the campaign underlined the need for a better option capable of stepping in. Ben White was Arsenal’s regular right-back last term who, like Timber, can also shift inside, giving the manager a number of versatile options across his backline.
Timber believes he can provide an option in midfield too, confident that the similarities between Arsenal and Ajax’s game will allow him to thrive.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Timber follows in the footsteps of the likes of Marc Overmars and Thomas Vermaelen in making the move from Ajax to Arsenal with club legend Denis Bergkamp another to have played for both sides.
“There are a couple of players [who have come here from Ajax], but there have been not a lot,” he said. “So I think it’s special to be here as an Ajax player and it’s special that they notice you and they see me as the player I am. I’m really excited, especially now I’m here. Everyone is so nice and you can see it’s a big club. I’m excited to play for this beautiful club, and I can’t wait to start, and to see the fans obviously in the stadium.”
Timber’s arrival at Arsenal is a major boost for Arteta’s side, with his versatility allowing him to fill in across three positions. His ability to play from the back and in midfield will be a great asset for the Gunners, and his arrival could help them challenge for silverware next season.