With Martin Ødegaard back, the Arsenal look more fluid and better than ever. However, what could prove just as important is retaining the health of Riccardo Calafiori and Jurriën Timber
In the best sense of a word possible, Timber is a freak.
His performance away in Portugal was just another example in his short Arsenal career that proved every ounce of his quality. It’s no exaggeration to say that in Timber, Arsenal have the perfect modern-day fullback. The footballing definition of a Swiss army knife.
So far this season, the Dutchman has played 9 matches at left back, and 6 matches at right back.
You’ll rarely find a defensive player capable of playing both sides, and Timber is also a more than capable CB if needed too.
Timber’s defending style is incredibly robust and old fashioned. Rarely does Timber overcommit to a challenge, and when an opponent has a burst of pace to them, Timber has such a unique way of wrapping his right foot around the opponent’s dribbling path to cleanly win the ball. And when starting at right back and fully allowed to roam and create havoc with Ødegaard and Saka, that right-hand side has some of the most natural combination play and rotations in the league.
Calafiori’s health will be just as important. The Italian clearly has a level of aggression that is yet to be fully refined, but it also helps make him such a menace too. He takes up such natural positions in build up, and gives our left side a balance that is hard to replicate otherwise. Riccardo’s return could also be pivotal to the likes of Gabriel Martinelli being able to be as offensively potent as possible.
With these two fit, Arsenal’s level of dynamism and naturally fluidity in buildup goes up a level. So far these two have started together against PSG, Leicester, Manchester City Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon, and not only have Arsenal looked much more fluid on the eye in these matches, they’ve also registered some ridiculous numbers statistically too.
In the 5 matches Arsenal have had Timber and Calafiori available, the Gunners have registered 12.28xG, with an xG against of 4.36 – with well over half of that total being artificially inflated down to 10 men away at the Etihad.
Arsenal look at their natural fluid best again, and let’s hope for a period with no injuries of note to really pull us back into contention domestically, because with these two in our defence, and Martin back too, this Gunners lineup has some frightening potential.
COYG.
**Nick**