‘Not what he was signed for’ - Arsenal star told to get TOUGH with Arteta

Robin Bairner

3 Oct 2024 00:47 CDT
3 min read

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber has been told that he needs to stand up to manager Mikel Arteta if he is to discover his true potential.

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Timber has been excellent for Arsenal in the opening weeks of the season after having last term effectively wiped out because of injury.

He shone in the first half against PSG on Tuesday in a 2-0 Champions League win before being replaced because of an injury scare, yet former Netherlands international Khalid Boulahrouz has told him that if he really wants to reach his best, something at the Emirates Stadium needs to change.

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Jurrien Timber

D (C)

Arsenal

Jurrien Timber

D (C)

Arsenal

ETV Range

€29M - €48.4M

Timber’s role has bounced around the team this season, featuring as a starting left-back, right-back and even in midfield, and former Chelsea star Boulahrouz says this is not a healthy state of affairs.

“Of course he is coming back from a serious injury,” Voetbal Primeur report him saying to Ziggo Sport.

“Then you are very humble and happy that you are in the starting line-up at such a great club. You enjoy that. But is it good for the rest of your career? No.

“Is it good to be versatile? It can be an option every now and then. If he were to play right-back, that’s closer to his nature, but left-back… No, that’s not what you were signed for. You played centrally and you deserved it.”

Timber injury update

Timber was signed in a €40 million deal from Ajax little over a year ago, but Arsenal are only just starting to see a return on their investment now.

Nevertheless, after his injury scare in midweek, Arteta admits that he is having to be careful with his charge.

“He was unbelievable. He felt something muscular and we didn’t want to take any risks. He has been out a year and played a lot of minutes. We have to manage him,” he said after the PSG win.

Timber, therefore, seems likely to get a rest when Arsenal host Southampton on 5 October in the Premier League.