Arsenal new boy Jurrien Timber couldn’t suppress a grin when asked his favourite playing position as a defender. The 22-year-old, who joined from Ajax for £40 million with £5 million in add-ons, chuckled and said, “I’m happy if I can play, to be honest! It doesn’t matter where the coach wants to put me. I will do my best and give everything I can,” according to an article from sportskeeda.com.
The young defender is lauded for his deft ball-handling skills. Despite having quality defenders such as Saliba, Magalhaes, and Kiwior, Arsenal decided to reinforce its defence with the adaptable Dutch player. Timber not only performs as a central defender but is also a skilled full-back.
Timber played as a left-back in the FA Community Shield clash against Manchester City on August 6, which the Gunners won on penalties.
What Jurrien Timber said after Arsenal defeated Manchester City in the Community Shield
The Gunners and Manchester City produced a spellbinding display in a thrilling Community Shield match. Thirteen minutes from time, Cole Palmer’s goal gave the English champions the lead, but Leandro Trossard’s deflected goal in injury time goal for Mikel Arteta’s tenacious team offset it. The subsequent penalties, which captured the essence of football’s unpredictable nature, were a testament to the match’s intensity.
Timber told Sky Sports, “It doesn’t change a thing for us. We still have our own goals. We want to show what we can do in the Premier League but also in other competitions.” He added, “It (winning at Wembley) is a positive thing for the dressing room. Last year (Arsenal) showed already they are a serious team, with good players and a good squad. They played for the title, and, I think, this year the expectations are even higher as they bought a lot of players,” an article from sportskeeda.com shared.
The Gunners ultimately ended up second behind Manchester City after dominating the Premier League for an astounding 248 days in the last season. Mikel Arteta’s team will be strong contenders in the coming season, too, a formidable roadblock to Manchester City’s historic quest for a fourth straight league success.