Jurrien Timber Welcomes Competition As Arsenal Close In On Riccardo Calafiori

By The Editor
on 24th July 2024

Timber feels like a new signing himself…

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber welcomed the competition for places at the club as we close in on the signing of defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, Football London reports.

Timber, who joined the club from Ajax last summer, feels like a new signing himself given that a serious knee injury meant that he only played about an hour of competitive football for us last season.

Those minutes came on the first and final games of the Premier League campaign, illustrating just how little we saw of the Dutch international.

Timber played in both full-back positions during those competitive minutes and demonstrated his ability to play in central defence for Ajax. The 23-year-old feels his versatility will be an asset to Mikel Arteta and welcomed any competition for places that may present itself.

“I think it’s good,” Timber said when asked about the potential of Arsenal adding another defender.

“And it’s good for the team. At the end of the day, you want to win prizes and you need everyone for that. So, I think it’s fun and good for everyone to lift each other up.

“I have played everywhere in the back to be fair,” the former Ajax man said when asked about his favourite position.

“Last pre-season I started a lot as a left-back and I enjoyed it as well so I am happy to play.

“I spoke about it with Ben White as well. I think it’s good to be versatile just to play more positions. You’re also able to get more minutes then I think and the coach can put you in more places, I think it’s nice for him as well. And I’m just hoping to play anywhere.”

Given how little football he played, we were never able to see the plan Arteta had for him and what his arrival meant for the other players in the squad.

Interestingly, it was Gabriel who was benched for the opening game of the Premier League season last year as William Saliba and Ben White formed a partnership.

If the Calafiori deal does get over the line, I suspect Arteta hasn’t committed to that outlay to bring in a player who we intend to warm the bench.