Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Jurrien Timber will be put through his paces with the club’s under-21s before he’s reintroduced to the senior matchday squad.
The Holland international remains the only player unavailable to the Spaniard – a pretty remarkable state of affairs given his side is playing every three days – but the summer signing is edging closer to a return to action having worked his way back from August’s ACL surgery.
“It’s too soon,” confirmed Arteta when asked if Timber could be part of the squad for Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
“He’s going to play a game with the under-21s and after that we will see better where he is, how he felt.
“He looks really good in training but it’s that last biggest step that now we need to make it smaller and have the certainty that he is ready to go.”
Mehmet Ali’s under-21s face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Monday evening and their final game of the season, against Liverpool, is the following weekend.
We expect Timber will be involved in the former and that an additional non-competitive fixture will also be laid on at London Colney, something Arteta hinted at last week.
While Arsenal are focused on keeping their title hopes alive on Saturday, the transfer talk has already started to pick up. Many have speculated that the Gunners could look to sign another left-back in the summer.
While it remains a possibility (despite our many options), it sounds like Arteta is more than open to deploying Timber on the left side of his defence, something he experimented with in pre-season when Oleksandr Zinchenko was struggling with injury.
“Both positions,” said Arteta when asked which full-back position he sees Timber occupying.
“In pre-season, he played in both positions, right and left full-back. [The decision will be made] in relation to the game as well, the players we have available. We will use him in different ways.”
Looks like we have a new left back for next season!
Yeah, I don’t get the calls for defensive reinforcements. LB we have Timber, Zinny, Kiwior, and Tomi. All are good options for EPL and Champions league levels. We desperately need world class reinforcements to (1) the forward line and (2) midfield. We are too thin in both areas, and the last few games have shown there are still questions around our capacity to deliver in these really big moments in these areas. Jorgs should be a squad player, not a XI player (he’s too old and slow to handle this, and it’s a recipe for disaster against teams that play… Read more »
Don’t forget the cover for saka and odegard as well
I think we just have to hope on Vieira for Odegaard backup (not sure we can bring in three, unless we find a young diamond somewhere – maybe Nwaneri?). A forward (Striker) does provide backup/rotation for Saka as Jesus can definitely play there. I think we gotta go large on those two positions (forward and another #6/#8).
Spare a thought for Rice, who has practically played 90 minutes of every game this season, and who’ll play 90 mins of every game at the Euro’s
I have to give you credit for your unrelenting, blinkers-on, “Zinchenko is god” campaign. Impressive! Even if absolutely laughable! 😂
Also still have Tierney on the books 😁
I think this LB replacement talk is a smoke screen, just to divert attention and grab the talent in the positions you mention.
LALB?
I did mean LANLB of course. But Timber is actually more of a LANILBWWBIAARB
(Like A New Inverting Left Back Who Was Brought In As A Right Back, if I simply have to spell it out for you)
LANILBWWBIAARCHARB
‘
Like A New Inverting Left Back Who Was Brought In As A Right Centre Half And Right Back, to be accurate.
I’m starting to miss the days when all we had was a TGSTEL.
Wasn’t that a giant steel mill in the old Soviet Union?
I have a feeling that Timber was meant to be the left 8. Arteta always plays up his attacking skills and always says we can use him in other areas.
Timber is a right sided center half who can also play right back.
I remember Phil Costa having that theory on Arsecast’s new player podcast when we bought him, saying it’s interesting we went for him as soon as our offer for Caicedo was rebuffed… I don’t know if that was what he was meant to be, but wouldn’t be surprised if it’s another option Arteta considered for a versatile player such as him
He can play on any side but until he is fully fit, can carry the water bottles for bottling. (sorry, sometimes you are healing with bad jokes)
Next season shopping list:
1. Striker.
2. “Proper” left back.
3. Left 8.
4. Right winger.
Top-quality goalkeeper?
We have a great keeper in Ramsdale. This is my only disagreement with Arteta. Same as when he sold Martinez and kept Leno.
Hi, Martin
In your opinion, who is the best goalkeeper? Leno, Ramsdale, Martinez or Raya?
1) Martinez
2) Ramsdale
3a) Leno
3b) Raya
Raya is pretty close to Emi, but I’d still give Emi the nod. That was our biggest GK mistake:Leno over Martinez (Dios Mio, what were we thinking?!). Leno is below average at everything except shot stopping (and even then he loves leaving juicy rebounds).
I agree with the above list fully. As most readers would know I am a big Aaron fan but Martinez edges with his composure & overall e2e abilities. Raya is a dud and rightly placed at the very bottom.
The keeper situation is another conundrum at the moment. Ramsdale is leaving. Raya – to me – is not an elite keeper. But we are going to spend 27m (hopefully from Ramsdale sale) to keep him. Does Arteta now go for a backup keeper or does he go for one that could challenge Raya for the number one spot? The second option comes at a cost that could affect summer plans.
I would, but I think Mikel has made his mind up on that one and it’s Raya for the next couple of seasons…for better or worse. Ramsdale should be sold while we can still get a decent price for him.
Isak (geordies), Neto(wolves), Paqueto(bubble ham utd), Palmer keeper from WBA, would be good additions, for various reasons I expect maybe if not all Zichenko, Jorginho, Partey, ESR, Nelson, Vieira, Nketiah, Ramsdale finding new clubs next season, the net amount we would get in return probably about a Havertz…
Isak would be a dream. Paqueta headed to $ity