One down, one to go (for now).
Arsenal yesterday confirmed the signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax, a deal all of us knew was ready to occur. He’s a participant who ticks plenty of packing containers for Mikel Arteta. He’s younger however skilled, versatile in that he can play in plenty of positions, there’s nonetheless room to develop and enhance, and he’s obtained some love of Arsenal baked in.
The supervisor says:
Jurrien is a younger participant, however has already achieved a lot. He has skilled what it’s wish to go to a significant worldwide match on multiple event, in addition to the trophies he has gained with Ajax. We sit up for welcoming and integrating Jurrien into the squad.
Whereas the participant spoke about his attraction to this membership, saying:
It was due to my brothers. They had been at all times Arsenal followers, and I simply cherished seeing Arsenal play. They’d massive gamers, the best way they performed, the type. I simply love the membership. I had this from a younger age, however my brothers sort of put that in me. I appreciated watching Robin van Persie after all, and Thierry Henry. They had been my favorite gamers.
Which is sweet, however clearly not the rationale we purchased him. We’ll have to attend and see the place he’s chosen, however he spoke about his versatility:
I believe that I’m fortunate to say that I can play as a central defender, with no consideration full-back, typically even on the midfield. I believe that’s a very good factor and I must preserve that.
Final season at Ajax he performed as a centre-half, however I believe he’s been introduced in to finish a trio of right-sided defenders with Ben White and William Saliba. All three can play centrally, however White and Timber can function as right-backs – albeit in barely other ways, so I believe that little bit of selection is a consider his arrival too.
On the opposite aspect now we have a trio of Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko – once more there’s selection, and naturally for now we even have Kieran Tierney. That leaves Takehiro Tomiyasu as one thing of a Swiss Military Knife defender – he can play in each single place throughout the back-line to offer depth and high quality. It’s definitely an fascinating defensive roster we’ve assembled.
For extra on Timber and what sort of a participant he’s, Phil Costa has a profile piece right here on website, and we go into way more depth on him in podcast format over on Patreon.
Participant announcement movies at the moment are half and parcel of the switch cycle, nevertheless it’s fairly uncommon you see a membership put collectively a goodbye video for a participant. Ajax’s farewell to Timber is de facto beautiful, nevertheless it additionally tells you a lot in regards to the sort of participant and character we’re bringing in. I do suppose that latter half is value mentioning, as a result of whereas we predict at the start of a participant’s means on the pitch, it actually does really feel like Arteta and Edu do their homework on the particular person too. Arteta has made some very tough selections to domesticate the sort of dressing room he needs, and it’s apparent he needs the expertise to return in the appropriate package deal.
You impressed our youthYou will do the identical in LondonYou are #ForTheFuture pic.twitter.com/ALFd7hNur3
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 14, 2023
As nicely, in the event you haven’t seen the video of the Dutchman’s first day on the membership, it’s nicely value a watch through the official website. From Edu going to the airport to select up Timber and his household, Mikel Arteta charming the mum, and the involvement of individuals like Per Mertesacker and Jack Wilshere, it’s a good way to welcome a brand new participant. It is perhaps #content material, nevertheless it additionally reveals the holistic strategy that exists inside the membership nowadays. Every little thing is related, everyone seems to be a part of all of it. I actually prefer it.
So, we’ll get our first glimpse of him on the US tour and hopefully he can observe within the footsteps of former Ajax alumni like … oh … Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu and Marc Overmars, and have a profitable time in North London. Large footsteps to kind of observe in, however I’m actually enthusiastic about what he can do on this model of crimson and white.
Past that, Declan Rice has mentioned his goodbyes to West Ham, and the chatter is he’ll be introduced immediately. Let’s wait and see.
For now, have a very good one.
