How Arsenal may line up with Jurrien Timber as intriguing new tactic opened up
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rsenal are very eager on signing the Dutch defender Jurrien Timber, and his versatility is a serious cause behind the Gunners’ curiosity in him.
Capped 15 occasions for the Netherlands, the 22-year-old is snug as a centre-back both in a again 4 or again three and likewise as a right-back.
Arsenal have already made a £30million bid for the extremely rated teenager. They usually are not believed to have any critical competitors for his signature, and though Ajax say they need £50m, it’s thought he might be accessible for a charge within the area of £34m to £39m.
Here, Standard Sport assess how he may match into Arsenal’s backline.
4-2-3-1
While Timber may line up alongside William Saliba in a brand new centre-back pairing within the 4-2-3-1 system that Mikel Arteta at the moment deploys, he would extra doubtless be utilised at right-back, mirroring the tucking-in that Oleksandr Zinchenko does on the opposite facet.
It could be an fascinating signing if it does come off as a result of Arteta would then should determine between two gamers snug as centre-backs and right-backs: Timber and Ben White.
Timber is the youthful and extra high-profile identify, however White was distinctive on the fitting flank for Arsenal this season. Either means, whether or not he dislodged White or Gabriel, Arteta would say such squad depth solely makes their probabilities of a repeated title problem extra doubtless.
3-5-2
This is the system he performed in for the Netherlands on the World Cup, the place he operated on the fitting of a again three, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake. It is a job which has diminished attacking duty however is centred round passing and excessive defensive work fee.
Timber could be on the lookout for passes into midfield, the place potential signing Declan Rice, Jorginho and Martin Odegaard may obtain the ball and get Arsenal shifting.
Jurrien Timber may line up alongside William Saliba in a brand new centre-back pairing
/ Getty Images3-4-3
A 3-4-3 could be an analogous prospect for Timber, who may even have performed for Curacao or Aruba as an alternative of the Netherlands by his mother and father. In this method, there could be fewer choices to go to in midfield, with solely two central midfielders.
However, Bukayo Saka could be taking part in his acquainted wide-ride place, so Timber may play up the road to wing-back White forward of him or, certainly, to Saka. Timber’s flexibility from system to system makes him a fascinating switch goal for Arsenal, and — in the event that they pull it off — would make him a shrewd signing.