Arsenal delivered a very strong performance as a victory on penalties saw them lift the Community Shield following a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, but one player particularly shone.
One of three summer arrivals making their competitive debuts for the club, Dutch defender Jurrien Timber was the best player on the pitch as Arsenal went toe to toe with the side who had beaten them three times last season.
The 22-year-old arrived for an initial fee of £34m this summer and started at left-back in the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko. Timber typically plays as a right-back or centre-back, but he looked completely unfazed in a new position in his new team.
Timber played 76 minutes before being substituted for Kieran Tierney with the score at 0-0, and Arsenal conceded almost immediately after he departed the pitch.
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His performance was a teaser into what Arsenal fans can expect from their new signing, and fans left Wembley Stadium raving about his display.
How well did Timber play against Man City?
Lining up in Zinchenko’s inverted role on the left, Timber was accurate in his passing, completing 92% of his 25 attempts, whilst also winning three duels as per SofaScore.
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His ability on the ball stood out, whilst he was incredibly strong defensively, keeping Bernardo Silva very quiet and helping Arsenal’s build-up play from defence.
City struggled to create clear opportunities whilst he was on the pitch, and as debuts go, it was arguably one of the best from a new Arsenal player in recent times.
International teammate Virgil van Dijk has described him as a “true professional,” and this was reflected in his performance, where he handled one of the best teams in the world with ease, and was confident in his actions both going forward and defensively.
There will be great excitement amongst Arsenal fans about his potential in his natural position, but for now, he has earned himself a starting spot with the Premier League starting next week.