Unveiling Jurrien Timber: Revolutionizing the Modern Full-back Role at Arsenal

Jurrien Timber appears to be a valuable addition to Arsenal, regardless of their intended position for him. With over 200 appearances for Ajax at just 22 years old, he demonstrated exceptional passing abilities, surpassing all other players in the Eredivisie last season. He is a composed and formidable defender. However, it is worth noting that Arsenal has publicly stated their intention to deploy him as a right-back, despite his previous experience primarily in the center. His sole start as a right-back last season resulted in a 4-0 loss to France in an international match.

But the move reflects a growing trend.

Image:

Jurrien Timber's passing ability is a big part of his appeal to Arsenal

There has been a rapid tactical change in the Premier League. Not too long ago, the natural progression for full-backs was anticipated to be quite distinct. The focus was on offensive-minded players charging down the wing.

On We, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher would jest about the outdated defensive full-back role. Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson symbolized the upcoming generation, with the team's attack mainly relying on their wide threat.

Even the most highly praised duo of full-backs in the country has had to adapt. Just as Oleksandr Zinchenko transitioned into midfield at Arsenal, Alexander-Arnold followed suit. Several players have been employed by Manchester City in a similar hybrid position.

The man credited with pioneering the use of the inverted full-back position has acknowledged the evolution of the role. "Over the past decade, full-backs were primarily known for their athleticism and physicality," states Philipp Lahm. "However, I believe there has been a slight shift. Nowadays, there is a greater emphasis on technical abilities."

However, the impact of this positional change extends beyond the skill set required of the player assuming the inverted full-back role. It also places new expectations on the remaining traditional full-back in the team. This has subsequently created a demand for a specific type of player, commonly referred to as a "Timber."

Content must be written in English: Alexander-Arnold's positional change at Liverpool has been quite noticeable, but Robertson has also had to adjust by tucking inside and covering, which is a significant change for him. He explains, "It's been like playing in a back three. It feels different, maybe a bit more cautious."

Despite the challenges, Scotland's captain is skilled and experienced enough to adapt. However, the constant rotation of these changes implies that players like Neville, who could play as a full-back or centre-back, and Carragher, a centre-back who could also perform as a full-back, are no longer considered outdated.

The full-back in a three-man defence does not require skills in crossing the ball or covering extensive distance. Their primary focus should be on defending inside the penalty box. Pep Guardiola emphasized the importance of this defensive aspect in City's title-winning season, stating that all members of the back four were proficient defenders. He highlighted the need to win individual battles in the box, which had been lacking in the past.

Nathan Ake was chosen over Joao Cancelo, and Manuel Akanji was even selected as a full-back ahead of Kyle Walker in some of Manchester City's most important matches, including the Champions League final. According to Neville, Pep Guardiola has typically favored attacking, small-sized full-backs who can play in midfield or make attacking runs on the flanks. However, there has been a recent shift in this approach.

Guardiola's concepts regarding the game are naturally adopted by his ex-assistant Mikel Arteta. At Arsenal, the inclusion of Ben White, a central defender from his previous club Brighton, serves the purpose of team balance, with Zinchenko joining the midfield line.

By signing Timber, it appears that the intention to stick to this idea in the future is confirmed. However, in reality, White primarily executed the role in a more conventional manner, frequently overlapping with Bukayo Saka. Nonetheless, this may result in Arsenal reverting back to a distinctly defined three-man defense.

Surprisingly, the Gunners were responsible for the highest number of errors resulting in shots in the Premier League last season. In fact, they made over twice as many errors as the other top four teams. Their possession was a bit loose and their transition game was somewhat vulnerable.

In his efforts to improve, Arteta surely took note of this. Luckily, Timber is a versatile player who can also play as a center-back and even take on the responsibility of stepping into midfield. With this new signing, it is expected that he will contribute to finding the much-needed solution and balance.

Jurrien Timber looks a smart acquisition. It could also be a symbolic one. A prime example of the changing profile of the modern full-back.