After signing Kai Havertz, Arsenal raced again into the switch market to finish a deal for Ajax defender Jürrien Timber.
However who’s the Dutchman, what’s going to he carry to the aspect and why is he costing £35 million? Phil Costa stories.
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In the case of creating and offering alternatives for younger expertise, few can match Ajax and their distinctive observe report. The likes of Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Clarence Seedorf are simply three of a number of high-profile names to have damaged via in Amsterdam however extra impressively, the membership are approaching 2,000 consecutive matches with a minimum of one academy graduate within the beginning lineup – a streak that started in 1982. Jürrien Timber additionally falls into that class who, regardless of beginning out with Feyenoord, is De Toekomst via and thru.
After making his senior breakthrough in 2020, the 22-year-old has risen in prominence with every passing season and is now a key determine in Ajax’s beginning eleven. However issues might have been completely different when Erik ten Hag – the supervisor who handed him his debut – made Timber his major defensive goal when taking on at Manchester United final yr, earlier than pursuing Lisandro Martínez as an alternative when inner talks persuaded the Dutch worldwide to remain and assist them via transition.
Nonetheless right here tho ❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/CuHy54RO3R
— Jurrien Timber (@JurrienTimber) July 6, 2022
Sadly it was a turbulent marketing campaign for the membership who surrendered their Eredivisie title to Feyenoord and missed out on Champions League qualification altogether, though the defender demonstrated his worth with extra appearances and minutes than another participant.
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What makes Timber such an thrilling prospect is his consolation in possession. Following the departure of Lisandro, the 22-year-old was successfully tasked with changing his elite ball development alongside the extra typical Calvin Bassey and tailored effectively in doing so. He at the moment sits within the 98th percentile for cross completion (93%), progressive passes (6.3) and passes into the ultimate third (6.8) per 90 amongst positional friends – FBRef knowledge – excelling in programs which maximise his Ajax schooling. His passing isn’t all the time adventurous however dependable over brief and mid-range distances, with a robust appreciation for understanding when to play secure and when to be daring. One space that wants refinement is his lengthy passing; too typically they’re pale with backspin and grasp within the air which makes them simple to defend.
Regardless of these spectacular numbers, his true superpower lies in ball carrying. Standing at 5ft 11in (182cm) tall, Timber isn’t your typical centre again and that reveals in his sharpness of motion, the place he can burst away from strain with good turns and physique swivels. The Dutchman is extraordinarily fast over the primary 5 or ten yards, matching pace with delicate toes in congested areas to maintain the ball underneath management earlier than driving into area. He typically swaps positions with Edson Álvarez – a taller, extra conventional defensive midfielder – throughout video games and feels pure in central areas which provides weight to him enjoying at full again for this Arsenal aspect. The 22-year-old at the moment sits within the 99th percentile for progressive carries (2.3) and within the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions (1.7) per 90, highlighting his willingness to interrupt strains and make significant contributions additional ahead.
However these attributes mustn’t detract from his defensive high quality which is simply as eye-catching. Naturally, Ajax dominate possession within the Eredivisie and Timber performs a vital function in permitting that to occur. He’s tasked with staying touch-tight on strikers, nudging them within the again, wrapping his limbs round them – primarily being allowed to comply with hazard all around the pitch. The opposition must earn each inch in opposition to him and after they do escape, anticipate to be hunted down inside seconds. Typically left because the final man, Timber can also be snug defending area because of his sturdy restoration tempo and treads the road between aggressive play and fouling effectively to keep away from conceding fouls.
Following the membership’s long-standing curiosity in Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo, might this signing be a workaround in recruiting proximal qualities however for half the worth? Each gamers are aggressive, proactive ball-winners with nice bodily capability and flexibility throughout a number of completely different positions. Naturally there might be a niche in high quality however stylistically, they play in related areas of the pitch which Mikel Arteta might discover.
Jurrien Timber (@JurrienTimber) – Dribbling and Ball Retention pic.twitter.com/yZgtDgBdrj
— RL (@RL_Comps) July 3, 2023
One thing which can have been famous by scouts is his aerial prowess. Timber is already an unorthodox centre again, enjoying in a extra technical league and received simply 47% of his aerial duels final time period. This might show problematic in English soccer in opposition to greater, extra direct centre forwards with surprisingly poor method and timing contemplating how cleanly he competes on the bottom. Nonetheless, Arsenal have already got sturdy aerial choices on the membership (particularly alongside the backline) so this might trivialise his flaws.
One other behavior he must curb is blind chasing and vacating his place. Ushering strikers again in direction of their very own proper again would possibly work within the Eredivisie, however area is exploited and punished extra frequently within the Premier League which requires extra consideration with out shedding his all-action nature. This will additionally apply to his dribbling, the place he’s responsible of overplaying or releasing the ball too late.
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“He’s one other nice chief that was skilled right here at Ajax,” Ten Hag instructed membership media of Timber forward of his personal departure to Manchester United in June 2022.
“Apart from his abilities, his versatility, he has the persona to change into a captain. An incredible participant and a real skilled.”
And people buzzwords seem once more. Susceptible to repeating myself, the membership continues to focus on clear profiles of their recruitment since Arteta and Edu took over: younger gamers with expertise, management qualities and flexibility. Timber, like Kai Havertz, like Declan Rice, like Martin Odegaard, like Aaron Ramsdale, arrive with their wits about them in senior soccer however extra importantly – malleability and potential to enhance underneath this coach.
It stays unclear the place the 22-year-old will characteristic on this aspect however brings a single-minded, tenacious strategy to ball-winning; which this group has lacked often at essential moments. He additionally appears an instantaneous match for the ‘Ben White function’ in our present setup and shifting ahead, permits us to swap the best way we invert our full backs (from left to proper) and another in how we progress the ball, via ball carrying as an alternative of distribution.
It’s no secret that Eredivisie expertise hasn’t all the time thrived in England, however Arsenal have performed their homework and invested considerably in a participant who has the uncooked substances to be extra Jaap Stam than Jozy Altidore – the remaining is as much as him.
