Arsenal’s ‘new signing’ ready to be a star next season

Carlo Garganese

• 23 Apr 2024 09:30 BST
• 3 min read

Like a new signing. It is one of the most overused sayings in football but Arsenal fans will hope it rings true for Jurrien Timber next season.

Timber made his long-awaited return from injury on Monday night for Arsenal’s Under-21 team and immediately showed just what a big talent he is.

Within eight minutes, the defender scored a stunning goal in the match against Nottingham Forest.

Cutting in from the left, the Dutchman curled home a beautiful strike to give Arsenal the lead.

He played in a left back role, often drifting inside in the way that Mikel Arteta asks of his full backs.

The left back position has been a weak area for Arsenal this season, with Oleksandr Zinchenko failing to shine.

It appears unlikely that Timber will feature much in the first team between now and the end of the current season, but next term he has the ability to be a real upgrade in the position for the Gunners.

It is a big boost for Arteta and Arsenal, who have been robbed of the services of Timber for almost the entire season.

On his Premier League debut, during a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest last August, Timber was forced off with what later was confirmed as an ACL injury.

The Dutch defender was forced to undergo surgery and it had been initially hoped that he would be able to return soon after the new year.

However, this initial diagnosis was too optimistic and he has only just taken to the field now.

Timber first season written off

Arsenal signed Timber last summer from Ajax for a fee of €40 million plus €5m in bonuses.

The Gunners had made the signing of a hybrid defender who can play at centre back and full back a priority for the summer transfer window.

It had been hoped that the 22-year-old would help take Arsenal onto the next level - together with fellow summer signings Declan Rice and Kai Havertz - after the Gunners had narrowly missed out on the Premier League title last term.

But disaster struck in his first game for Arsenal.

Arsenal had beaten Man Utd to the signing of Timber, who was a player appreciated by current Red Devils coach Erik ten Hag.

Timber made 47 appearances for Ajax last season, while he has been capped 15 times by Netherlands.

He had been expected to play at Euro 2024 for Holland but that now looks unlikely.