The highly rated Jurrien Timber has officially joined Arsenal for a fee believed to be €40m, with an additional €5m in add-ons. Timber, who was also pursued by Premier League rivals Manchester United last summer, adds versatility to Arsenal's defensive line. He is capable of playing as a right center back in a back three or back four, as well as a right back.
Expressing his fondness for Arsenal, Jurrien said, "It was because of my brothers. They were always Arsenal fans, and I just loved seeing Arsenal play. They had big players, the way they played, the style. I just love the club. I had this from a young age, but my brothers kind of instilled that in me. I liked watching Robin van Persie, of course, and Thierry Henry. They were my favorite players."
This signing is expected to bring joy to Arsenal fans and could signal the end of Rob Holding's time at the club. Holding has struggled to deliver consistent performances over the past two seasons, contributing to Arsenal missing out on a top-four finish in the 2021/22 campaign and failing to win the league in 2022/23.
Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta, expressed his excitement about Timber joining Arsenal, stating, "We're really excited that Jurrien has joined us. He is a versatile young defender who will fit into our system and provide our squad with added quality."
Timber has demonstrated his exceptional ball-playing abilities during his time at Ajax. He comfortably handles the ball, particularly in advanced areas of the pitch, aligning well with Arsenal's preference for playing out from the back. Squawka's statistics reveal that Timber completed an impressive 91.7 percent of his passes last season and played more passes into the final third (399) than any other defender in the top seven leagues.
Although it remains to be seen where Timber will primarily feature in Arsenal's lineup, his passing range, versatility, and physical attributes make him a valuable option to provide cover and competition for Saliba at right center back and Ben White on the right side of Arsenal's defense. Timber's ability to also play as an inverted right back, similar to Zinchenko on the left, further enhances his versatility.
Arsenal's Sporting Director, Edu, expressed his satisfaction with the signing, stating, "We are very happy to bring Jurrien to Arsenal. He is a player that we have admired for a long time, so it's a credit to everyone in our team who made this happen. Jurrien is a young talented international player who fits our vision of competing with a young strong squad."
This signing represents a significant positive for Arsenal as they make their return to the Champions League next season, marking their first appearance in the competition since 2016/17. It strengthens their defensive depth, which was exposed as a weakness following Saliba's and Tomiyasu's injuries towards the end of last season. Furthermore, it demonstrates the progress of the Arsenal project, as highly rated young players across Europe are eager to join the North London club, solidifying their ambition and potential for success.
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