Timber's progressive style offers Arsenal an unexpected solution

After year out, right-back shows he could be the answer on the left

- Simon Collings

WHEN Arsenal signed Jurrien Timber last summer, the plan was for him to play at right-back.

The club was wary about the workload on Ben White and the belief was Timber would provide competition and cover.

Timber also offered something different in that he could tuck into midfield, just like Oleksandr Zinchenko does from the other flank.

But fast forward a year and it is Zinchenko and not White who Timber has ousted from the team.

The 23-year-old Dutchman has started the past three games at left-back and on Sunday completed 90 minutes for the first time in an Arsenal shirt in their 1-0 win at Tottenham.

Timber was part of a brilliant defensive performance and, after a year out with a knee injury, his display underlined how big a miss he was last season.

He made a combined total of four tackles and interceptions during the derby, with Thomas Partey the only Arsenal player to beat that.

Timber is primed to start Sunday’s showdown with Manchester City at the Etihad and is showing why Arsenal paid Ajax £38.5million to sign him.