Jurrien Timber warned current Arsenal role is ‘not good for his career’

Former Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz has urged Arsenal prima Jurrien Timber not to settee for a inferior relation astatine the Emirates, believing helium volition yet endure for his versatility connected the pitch.

Timber’s archetypal play astatine the Gunners was wrecked by wounded but the Netherlands planetary has enjoyed a superb commencement to the 2024-25 campaign.

The erstwhile Ajax prima started 4 consecutive games astatine left-back earlier switching to the close flank against Manchester City and Leicester, excelling successful that relation erstwhile again successful the 2-0 triumph implicit Paris Saint-Germain connected Tuesday night.

Timber made his sanction arsenic a centre-half backmost astatine Ajax, a presumption helium besides took up during Arsenal’s pre-season circuit of the US.

While helium has excelled successful each relation handed to him by Mikel Arteta truthful far, erstwhile Dutch defender Boulahrouz warns the changeless changes volition not beryllium bully for his vocation successful the long-term.

‘Of people helium is coming backmost from a superior injury. Then you are precise humble and blessed to beryllium successful the starting line-up astatine specified a large club. You bask that,’ helium told Ziggo Sport.

‘But is it bully for the remainder of your career? No. Is it bully to beryllium versatile? It tin beryllium an enactment each present and then.

‘If helium were to play close back, that is person to his nature, but near back… No, that is not what you were brought successful for. You played centrally and you deserved it.’

While centre-half has been regarded arsenic Timber’s earthy position, the Dutchman is up against possibly the astir formidable concern successful European shot successful William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes successful battling for 1 of those roles.

Riccardo Calafiori, who similar Timber has taken up the left-back relation this season, is besides adept astatine playing successful the middle.

Another erstwhile Netherlands planetary successful Ronald de Boer disagreed with Boulahrouz’s appraisal of the situation, insisting Timber is bully capable to displacement crossed the backline and support his level of performances.

‘They [Arsenal] person the 2 champion cardinal defenders successful the satellite with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães,’ de Boer said.

‘The English league is simply a spot antithetic than the Dutch one, right? I deliberation helium tin beryllium precise blessed that helium plays there, arsenic a left-right backmost oregon fig six. Because this lad tin bash a lot.’

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