Mikel Arteta has opened up about what Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have brought to Arsenal this season.
The Arsenal squad is currently well-stocked in the full-back department.
With Ben White currently injured, Jurrien Timber has been starting at right-back, whilst Riccardo Calafiori is establishing himself at the Emirates Stadium as a left-back.
Both players have enjoyed impressive starts to the season, and will feel like they have plenty to prove to Mikel Arteta.
Timber arrived in North London in the summer of 2023, but missed out on almost the entirety of his first season in English football after sustaining an ACL injury in his first Premier League outing. In that sense, the Dutchman is like a new signing this season and is clearly eager to make up for lost time.
Meanwhile, Calafiori is an actual new signing, having arrived from Bologna in the most recent summer transfer window. Calafiori has already impressed Arsenal fans, and truly announced himself with a spectacular goal against Manchester City.
There are now some injury concerns surrounding Calafiori, but Arteta will be hoping to have both the Italy international and Timber available to him when the Gunners take on PSG in a Champions League clash tomorrow evening.
Mikel Arteta gives verdict on Arsenal duo Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber
With Timber and Calafiori both now riding high at Arsenal, Arteta was asked to share his thoughts about the pair in his most recent press conference, as shared by HaytersTV.
The Spanish coach said: “Obviously, we missed Jurrien for 11 months, and Riccy wasn’t here.
“Two players that have, first of all the football brain, intelligence, the courage, the quality, and adaptability to occupy different spaces, both attacking and defending. That gives the team a different flow, different dynamic. Very unpredictable for the opponent to defend.
“Both huge personalities to play, which I love… They have to have one thing in common, they have to love defending first, because they are defenders. After that, every quality that we add is great.”
Will Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko suffer due to Timber and Calafiori?
Timber and Calafiori have both made strong cases to be regular starters with their recent performances.
White has been Arteta’s first choice right-back for some time, and has done nothing to deserve losing his place in the side. However, he has had to play an awful lot of football. White has often played whilst injured.
Timber’s presence will be good for White. Arsenal will have plenty of games to play this season, and both players can be afforded plenty of game time, but won’t be pushed to the point of burnout.
Meanwhile, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s future is less certain. The Ukrainian has been short of his best form for some time, and persistent injury issues are a real problem for him. The rise of Calafiori could force him out of Arteta’s plans.
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