No defender in the Premier League is as impactful in front of goal as Jurrien Timber after the Dutchman set up Bukayo Saka’s opener.
Arsenal were aggressive in their start at the Amex, facing Brighton with a point to prove after a period of criticism from the footballing world.
Mikel Arteta would have been satisfied with the Gunners’ start on the south coast, as Saka gave Arsenal the lead in the ninth minute.
The goal was set up by Timber, who has been making quite the impact in the final third, recording his third goal contribution in his previous three games.
The Dutchman’s impact isn’t just turning heads at Arsenal, but in the Premier League too, as he now leads one impressive chart.
Fill in the blank: Jurrien Timber is now worth £__m to Arsenal
Jurrien Timber tops the Premier League goal contribution charts for defenders
Everyone knows that Timber is a top-quality defender, but he’s showing that he’s also quite the attacking asset.
Against Brighton, the 24-year-old had a hand in his eighth goal of the Premier League season, which made him the league’s best defender for goal contributions.
No Premier League defender can match Timber’s eight contributions, made up of three goals and five assists.
For all of the talk about how unstoppable Gabriel Magalhaes is in the box, it’s actually Timber who is making quite a noise going forward.
Timber is proving that he can match Ben White
If there’s one thing Arsenal fans would change about Timber, it’s how much he plays, given that Arteta can afford to rest him to give Ben White minutes.
There’s a feeling among the fanbase that the two players offer different things, Timber being the better defender and White being the better attacker.
True or false: Arsenal are a better team when Ben White plays over Jurrien Timber…
This season is proving that it’s wrong to write Timber off in the final third when comparing him to his teammate.
Granted, White connects with Saka effortlessly, but against Brighton, his competitor showed that he can do the same.
For a player who arrived as a centre-back, Timber has done remarkably well to become such a powerhouse in all the roles of a modern-day full-back.
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