Jurrien Timber must play big role for Arsenal despite Riccardo Calafiori signing

If Riccardo Calafiori is the Buzz Lightyear in this story, then Jurrien Timber is certainly the Woody.

The slick cowboy was once Andy's favourite toy. Woody was the star; the main man. Timber's arrival at Arsenal was fairly lowkey given the fairly humble price tag and the apparent ease at which negotiations took place. It was a seamless transfer, and it didn't take long for supporters to gauge what they had in the Dutchman.

As we all know, though, Timber's debut campaign was cut cruelly short by an ACL tear sustained in August. Instead of enjoying this powerful defensive operator on-field and lauding his brilliance, fans were instead incessant in speculating over Timber's potential return. Persistent murmurs reported a speedy recovery and a premature return, but there was no John Cena at the 2008 Royal Rumble-esque comeback.

There were minutes on the final day, but that proved to be it for Timber in year one. His shine had faded. The underwhelming performances of his deputies convinced Mikel Arteta that a fresh left-sided defender was in order this summer. Enter Mr Lightyear: the new toy on the block that every kid desired and craved.

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Juventus were among the clubs keen on adding Buzz to their collection, but it was the allure of Arsenal and the Premier League that convinced Calafiori. "Is this real?" the Italian asked Mikel Arteta as he greeted his new teammates in the United States.

Calafiori's arrival is very much reality, unlike the scene from Toy Story 2 in which Woody dreams of Andy discarding his favourite. "I don't want to play with you anymore," Andy says as he throws Woody into a trashcan conjured up by the subconscious of the insecure cowboy. I wonder if Timber has woken up in a cold sweat having been sat down and told by Arteta that he's going to be reduced to a mere bit-part role next season?

The absence of a shiny new addition meant there was little scope for alternate excitement when Timber was recovering from his long-term injury. However, the arrival of Calafiori and all his 'aura' has seen the Dutchman shift to the back of a few supporters' minds. We're seeing projected lineups without Timber and the sudden inclusion of the new £42m man at left-back. Do Arsenal fans not want to play with Timber anymore?

Jurrien Timber must play a big role for Arsenal in 2024/25

I'd be doing to fanbase a disservice by suggesting the group as a collective has ditched the idea of the sturdy Dutchman playing a key role for the Gunners moving forward. It's taken Timber just a pair of pre-season outings to remind us all of what he can do, even if a starting berth at centre-back - where he's played so far this summer - is unlikely next season. His typically sound defensive showings sparked an incessant stream of clichés. 'He's going to feel like a new signing' must've been trending after Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth and 2-1 win over Manchester United.

Having joined the group out in the States, much of pre-season will now focus on how Calafiori settles and Arteta's future plans for this robust set of defenders. The Spaniard has a bunch of towering warriors at the back, with Timber and Calafiori capable of performing multiple roles within his framework. Can they co-exist? Sure, but another staple will surely have to be sacrificed - whether that be Gabriel or Ben White. A considerable systematic overhaul will have to occur if White, William Saliba, Gabriel, Timber and Calafiori are to play in the same team. It's possible, mind.

Nevertheless, while a new signing, especially one that the vast majority of the fanbase doesn't want to admit they're attracted to, will rightfully garner excitement, Calafiori should not be considered a shoo-in on the left side of Arsenal's defence with Timber back in the picture.

After a rocky opening, Buzz and Woody coalesced to work in tremendous harmony. We have to believe Arteta has a plan for his brand-new Italian toy and the Dutchman, who has the profile and talent to be a constant for the Gunners in 2024/25, to co-exist with similar serenity.

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