Pundit issues verdict on Jurrien Timber after Arsenal star’s display at Aston Villa

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With Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori in the summer transfer window, it would be understandable for Gunners fans to ask questions about the future may hold for Jurrien Timber after his tough first year at the Emirates.

Of course, Jurrien Timber missed the large majority of the campaign due to injury, with his two Premier League appearances coming on the opening and final day of the season. It has taken him just two weekends to match that tally at the start of the new year.

Timber was picked out as Gary Neville’s player to watch this season, and he was handed his first start for the trip to Villa Park as Mikel Arteta‘s men looked to make a real statement in the Premier League title race.

Obviously, it proved to be a very successful evening for Arsenal, with two late goals securing the three points against Unai Emery’s side. But it also proved to be a positive outing for Timber, with the 23-year-old impressing in that hybrid left-back role.

Pundit intrigued after Jurrien Timber’s display in Arsenal win at Aston Villa

It was not uncommon for the Dutchman to move alongside Thomas Partey in the middle of the park when William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes had the ball, while there were even a couple of occasions in the first-half when Timber would actually look to run beyond Kai Havertz when Arsenal were in possession around the halfway line.

And speaking on The 2 Robbies, Robbie Mustoe suggested that he was really impressed and intrigued by Timber’s display at Villa Park.

“Jurrien Timber is another player that we pointed out in the show, someone different, like Calafiori we know is a new signing, we saw him later in the game, I think he’ll be a fun player to watch in this team. But Jurrien Timber, for his first game in there really as a starting player as a left-back, I thought he was good, really good,” he said.

“He tired at the end, super neat and tidy on the ball. And there was one moment, who was it, I think it was Bailey running at him very quickly, or was it Rogers, and he defended pretty well in a difficult situation. So I think it is an interesting thing to mention.”

Future may now look bleak for two Arsenal players

Certainly, the performance of Timber and the signing of Riccardo Calafiori perhaps sends an ominous message to the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior about their futures at the Emirates.

Zinchenko was such an important signing when he made the move to Arsenal. The Ukrainian definitely appeared to have an impact on the mentality of a squad that had little experience of even for competing for titles. However, he has almost been a victim of his own success.

He was outstanding in the inverted role at times, but Arsenal are a different animal to the one he signed for. And with that, his defensive frailties have become more of an issue. There were reports Arsenal would consider bids for Zinchenko this summer.

Timber proved that he can be relied upon defensively, while he made a seamless transition into midfield against Villa. It does feel as though Arsenal may have a player who has taken them to another level, with Calafiori also waiting in the wings for his chance to prove himself.