Jurrien Timber may have won Arsenal's right back battle but he needs to win the fitness war

Jurrien Timber was Arsenal's best player as they overcame a tough test to beat Lille 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Dutchman impressed with his passing and runs down the right flank, and he got on the scoresheet when he broke the deadlock with a brilliant lobbed effort over Berke Özer after receiving a pass from Noni Madueke.

His display showed that he is by far the Gunners' best choice at right back and he should comfortably displace Ben White, but while he has won the battle at full back, he still has to win the war against injuries and poor fitness.

Jurrien Timber has won Arsenal's right back battle

When Timber joined Arsenal ahead of the 2023/24 season, there was an uncertainty around where he would play. White had excelled after moving to right back in the previous campaign with the Dutchman looking to take his place amid little hope of displacing Gabriel or William Saliba at centre back.

He started the term playing at left back, but was struck with a devastating ACL injury in the Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest that kept him out of action for practically the entire season, not making his return until the final day win over Everton.

Despite White's reliability throughout the near-miss campaign, Timber became Mikel Arteta's first-choice on the right side of defence for the 2024/25 season, making 48 appearances across all competitions while his English counterpart battled injuries throughout the year.

Both players faced fitness setbacks in the 2025/26 season, but Timber managed to play 44 times, compared to White, who appeared in 30 matches as Arsenal won the Premier League title and reached the finals of the Champions League and Carabao Cup.

The Dutch defender suffered an injury in the summer that kept him from making his first appearance until a trip to Sunderland on 12 September, coming off the bench to replace White. He has started two of the three games since then, against Brighton and Lille.

Timber's performance against the French side in particular showed the quality he possesses and that he is a superior right back to White. While he doesn't attack as often, he is still very capable of making runs up the flank and into the box, as shown with his well-taken goal, as well as being a stronger defender.

He has proven to Arteta that he should be the first-choice on the right side of defence, but he has to stay fit if he is to keep White at bay.

Jurrien Timber must now win the fitness war

Since signing for the Gunners, Timber has made 99 appearances, whereas White has played 115 matches in that period.

The Netherlands international missed practically his entire first season with Arsenal, being absent for 53 matches (for club and country) and 253 days of action. Since then he has been injured for a further 32 games and 202 days.

His injuries have been far from ideal as they have prevented him from holding down a regular spot in the team, especially when a player of White's talent and ability is waiting to snatch the spot. However, Timber should be boosted by the Englishman missing 43 matches and 268 days since the 2024/25 season.

Neither Timber or White boast particularly reliable fitness records, but as they battle it out for Arsenal's first-choice right back position, the victor of that may be a result of who can stay available for longer.

Timber is the ideal right back for Arteta and the Gunners and he is undeniably their best option, but he just has to stay fit.

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