Jurrien Timber sends Arsenal clear message in return as new role sheds light on transfer plan

Arsenal may well have been missing plenty from left-back this season but absolute worldies from the edge of the box probably aren't one they had thought about. Mikel Arteta has tried plenty to solve his defensive conundrum left by the left-back spot — which has varied between who can progress the ball best, remain fit, slot into midfield naturally, and handle one-on-ones with coolness — but one influential option has remained unavailable.

In Jurrien Timber, Arsenal felt they were signing a truly brilliant option for the future and the now. To have been without him for eight months and to still be top of the table — albeit having played a game more than Manchester City, soon to be two on Tuesday night — is remarkably impressive.

What Timber brought, other than sheer competition for defensive places, was versatility and a skill range completely different to his new peers. The Dutchman has spent most of his senior career as a centre-back but is more than capable of operating on either flank or as a wing-back.

He can play in a back three, and dribbles more than his teammates to bring the ball out from the defence as well. His athleticism is another thing that has been unmatched by those who have tried to fill in.

All of this was on show, and more, in his return to action. Playing for the club's Under-21 side away to Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League 2, it took him just eight minutes to score. Outside of a thunderous strike from the top of the box, it is the position that was most notable.

Nothing happens by chance within a club and Arsenal's left-back toils coinciding withTimber's immediate return to the pitch being straight in on that side signals much. It is likely to have been Arteta's asking that he play in that spot,