Mikel Arteta delivers verdict on Jurrien Timber’s display after Arsenal beat MLS All-Stars

Follow us on Google Discover

Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal new boy Jurrien Timber after his impressive display during their 5-0 win over Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars in Washington.

The 22-year-old, who signed from Ajax this summer, came off the bench for Mikel Arteta’s side, who not only put five goals past their opponents, but also secured a deserved clean sheet as they proved to be too powerful for the All-Star side.

After the game, Arteta spoke about the importance of Jurrien Timber and how he is ‘really versatile’. What impressed the Arsenal boss was the ‘aggression’ he showed without the ball, as he told his press conference.

Three new faces have arrived at the club this summer – Timber himself, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. It could be argued that the other two have been spoken about the most.

Rice got most of the headlines following his transfer from West Ham and how he is also a club-record transfer, whilst Havertz was very much talked about because of his move from London rivals Chelsea. 

It could be argued that, as a result, Timber has gone under the radar. But Arteta was sure to show him some love after the All-Star game.

“I think you have seen tonight that he is a really versatile player,” said Arteta. “We can use him in different positions, within those positions, he gives you the capacity to invert and occupy defender spaces.

“He is so comfortable on the ball in that phase. He has this aggression on the duels and that dynamism that I really like about him. You saw from the first action, in the high press, he went and won the ball straight away on that duel and he was ready to go. He has gelled really well with the team and I think he will be a really important player for the team.”

Timber is a better signing than Havertz and Rice

As the season kicks off, and over the course of the campaign, the Dutch star will prove to be the best pound-for-pound purchase Arsenal have made this summer because of the versatility he will provide to the backline. 

Not only will he elevate the levels and argue that he is better than those who are already starting, but he can come inside from the right-sided fullback role.

That’s something Ben White hasn’t done, so from that aspect, he might just be starting ahead of the England international from the get-go when the new season kicks off.