3 reasons why Arsenal are making a move for Jurrien Timber

3. Potential structure change?

Arsenal’s possession structure was crucial to their success last season, with the arrival of Zinchenko allowing the Gunners to dominate in central areas and control the dynamic of contests.

Arteta set his side up in a 3-2-5 configuration with Zinchenko forming a midfield two with the number six – either Thomas Partey or Jorginho. This allowed Arsenal to often overload and overwhelm teams in the build-up phase, while also ensuring their two young wingers were isolated one-on-one against their respective full-backs. Going the other way, Arsenal’s coherent structure protected them against the counter-attack.

And while Timber could perform several roles within this structure, namely White or Saliba’s, his arrival could allow Arteta to deploy two inverted full-backs. This is fairly common among preachers of positional play, with the two full-backs – instead of only one – sitting alongside the number six in midfield. This would hand Arsenal even greater control in midfield, but it could put more strain on the two centre-backs both with and without the ball, and potentially reduce the efficacy of the full-back/winger relationship.

Nevertheless, Timber’s flexibility and stellar work with the ball hands Arteta greater scope to change tack if necessary. The boss could use the Dutchman in myriad ways, and supporters would no longer need to fret about potentially losing White, or even Saliba, to injury. Timber’s that good.