Jurrien Timber says he has no issues with his knee following last year’s ACL surgery but admits he’s still coming to terms with the ‘intensity’ of the Premier League.
Despite picking up a minor foot injury during the pre-season tour of the USA, the 23-year-old’s Arsenal career is slowly building momentum after nine months on the sidelines.
Timber came off the bench against Wolves on the opening day of the season and has since started at left-back against Aston Villa and Brighton. While he still appears to be feeling his way back, a recall to the Netherlands squad alongside twin brother Quinten has come as a timely confidence boost.
Speaking to De Telegraaf while on international duty, he said: “The [injured] knee is stronger than the other one. Sometimes it still feels a bit stiff after a match or training, but in my head it is no longer an issue at all.
“When I trained outside for the first time, I immediately threw myself into tackles again without any fear. You can’t just participate half-heartedly, because then things go wrong.”
He added: “My body has to get used to the intensity of top-level football and the Premier League again. It is much higher and tactically a lot is demanded of you. Your brain also has to work hard, especially during training and meetings, so that things are automatic in matches.”
When he signed from Ajax last year, it was assumed that Timber would challenge Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu for a starting berth at right-back and perhaps offer cover as a centre-back. Manager Mikel Arteta seemingly had other ideas and the player says he’s comfortable playing wherever he’s asked.
“The centre of defence at Arsenal sits with Saliba and Gabriel. Where I play doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m playing. I can do well there [as a left-back] and the national coach can also put me there. It is a really nice position and I also play a lot in midfield. I have to play a lot of minutes now and it helps that I am multifunctional.”
The Netherlands play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Nations League group phase on Saturday with Jurrien and Quentin in line to become the first Dutch twins to share a pitch since Frank and Ronald de Boer.
“Walking onto the field with Quinten and listening to the national anthem, that would be really great,” said Jurrien.
Here’s hoping that comes true for them.
In the absence of Rice, it might be good to have him play in midfield for the Spurs game, and Calafiori behind him at left back. He’s definitely a more dynamic option than pairing Partey and Jorginho.
Agree, we need something more than Partey and Jorginho together. At worse, bring him on during the match to up the energy levels.
That position in the Arteta’s system required advanced know hows. Timber has never ever played there. Sure you wont want to experiment in the sway NLD derby.
Rice would not be missed much as he was not in good form either.
Read it that he has actually played in midfield many times before… and he said same in this article.
But it’s different playing for Arteta than sticking together 11 players in a working system for a national team. Arsenal’s system demands patterns of play and positioning that’s nearly second nature. Hence why our midfield revolves around who we have available. We *need* Jorginho for ball progression if we don’t have a party / zinchencko in the team. With Zinchenko in the backline we’re able to play Havertz at 8 with Rice at 6 (or I assumed that’s what the idea was based on last season). We never had to find out what we do without Rice as last season… Read more »
Agree, the NLD is not the time to experiment with a new role, esp if that wasn’t introduced in preseason and you already have an option who has played the role many times before. It’s not his technical or physical level, it’s his lack of reps as a cooridinated unit. At this level a missed assignment or lack of coordination in the press can lead to surrendering a fatal breakaway. I think we’ll see Timber at LB.
The main reason is the risk of five points behind City and perhaps even more if we do not beat Man City when we face them.
Well he hasn’t. Look it up.
Rice is a huge miss. Tottenham are an outlier in how high they press and how they push numbers forward. Rice can erase transitions and lock down Maddison. With him AND Merino missing we will be lacking some size and aggression.
Completely agree, this is not the time to experiment and also for Timber this is a challenging time anyway trying to come back from his injury and fit into the team even in just this one position, maybe let’s not overwhelm him with a whole other one to learn, in a massive game no less, and where if he doesn’t do well it could mess with his confidence.
Respect for bringing back the old Arsenal tradition of suggesting a defender would thrive in midfield because he looks somewhat comfortable on the ball.
It will be Havertz.
With Jesus likely out, that could mean Leo or even Raz up top?
Leo is kind of perfect as a CF vs Tottenham. They commit a lot forward and aren’t that organized. He will get looks.
And, importantly, Trossard will drop to pull their defenders even higher so someone like Havertz (or Martinelli since he may be playing from the left) can run in behind and exploit that high line.
Absolutely ridiculous considering how peripheral he’s been in terms of passing and general involvement.
If he manages to get back to full health and his best form I really think this kid has the talent, mentality and tactical intelligence to become one of the best full backs in the world, perhaps even the best.
i’ve read this comment so many times since i started reading arseblog. kiwior, mavropanos, gabriel paulista, pablo mari. funny how there’s always someone willing to bet a defender who’s played 3 matches for us will become the best in the world
Really, was I saying I’m willing to bet on it? Maybe read my comment more carefully and how many qualifying statements there are. And Timber isn’t Kiwior or Mavropanos, with all due respect to those guys. If you look simply in terms of video game qualities – athleticism, intelligence, dribbling, passing, defensive awareness – the talent is off the charts in basically every area other than goalscoring. Whether he’ll put it together is anyone’s guess.
I don’t remember people saying this about those players. Maybe saying they were good enough at the time and being excited about their potential. Timber felt like a different kind of signing, like when we signed Saliba as a teenager and it felt different.
He’s a real epitome of the modern defender, a positionless wonder. He can scan and turn on the ball like a midfielder, but has the size and aggression to contest as a center back. We have three of these now with White and Calafiori. Heady times. I think as you say all the tools are there but now he needs to lock down a position to avoid staying a utility player. He is “complete” as a profile because he can do everything, but now he needs to hone a superpower to become elite.
I think his superpower, that is if he completely regains his confidence and athleticism, is his ability to get away from a press with just a little quick shifty touch on the ball. And perhaps also that Rice-like knack for stealing the ball without sliding or fouling. Pretty sure his long term position at least for us will be full back on either side, maybe in future Arteta might try him in midfield but I don’t think any time soon.
Yeah.. get those xylems and phloems back in full vigor.
Ha ha good one
How good is his brother Quinten, anyone know? If he’s decent, would be amazing to have both Timbers playing for us. Way better duo than the Neville Sisters!
“Whingeing cunts”
Thanks for that Jaap