Clrnc Timber looks rather well suited to a hybrid role à la Zinny or Stones, you have to assume that's part of the thinking with him.

I admire White's qualities, but he's never gonna have the control and composure in close quarters that Zinchenko possesses. I have a vibe this will be the season we start to see a lot of tactical variation from Arteta—I don't think the "Xhaka role" is going to be what it was if Havertz is getting in the side either.

    I feel Timber was brought in to replace Zinchenkos dodginess at the back. White is just unfortunate to be affected.

    We'll soon see Timber playing the big matches and Zinny brought in for the weaker teams where we can be more attacking.

      banduan I feel Timber was brought in to replace Zinchenkos dodginess at the back. White is just unfortunate to be affected.

      I wouldn't be surprised to see us line up sometimes with a back four of Gabriel, Saliba, White and Timber. Timber steps into midfield to form a double pivot with Rice and then you've a back three of Gabriel, Saliba and White. White could still occasionally overlap on the right to combine with Saka and create overloads.

          Clrnc Timber has never played as LB though. Probably will be Kiwior instead and Timber on the right

          Timber as a LB isn't what I was saying. Gabriel could nominally be the LB in that situation

              Yeah it wouldn't be super surprising for Arteta to start picking teams with four players who are thought of as credible centre backs, that's what Guardiola's been doing.

              I'd like us to be a bit less predictable this way than last season though.

                Pepe LeFrits Good shout.

                I think he'll most likely play the Rijkaard role (I refuse to call it the Stones role as Guardiola basically copied the Ajax 95 set up) whenever he plays CB

                  Need to see how Timber defends, and if it all he can (or is allowed to ) give something different, say overlapping Saka occassionally. However, I've practically done a 180 on this signing. I wasn't comfortable with Edteta taking spending on defence to nearly 200 million, strengthening an area that we're already looking healthy in, and the tactic of deploying CBs out wide. However, hard not to get excited by Timber's comfort in possession and style and what it could do for this team.

                    KingslandBarge

                    I welcome the increased defensive investment after years of not doing so. Up until Mustafi, did we even break 10m for a defender?

                      I was ok with existing investment at the back heading into this summer. Operating on a one-out for one-in basis would have been fine (Cedric and Holding don't count to that rule). I guess it comes down to what one thinks is sufficient depth at the back, and whether one thinks White, Tomiyasu, Kiwior and Tierney offer sufficient quality and relevance as part of that depth, and whether 38 million could be spent in different area of need. I am progressively understanding the play as I see more and more of Timber and the contribution potential.

                      Critical look at some aspects of his game that need ironing out.

                      16 days later

                      Thought he was really good today, out of position against the top side in Europe.

                      Pepe LeFrits He looks like the complete package.

                      He doesn't look like much of a midfielder. He just looks like a defender who's good on the ball. That's probably what we needed in the context of today's game but in most games where the opponent isn't really competing for territory, that's not really what we need.

                      I feel like we need another Zinchenko, but it seems like he's closer to Ben White than Zinchenko.

                        Agree with that, when Zinchenko is on form he adds another dimension to our play and control of the game.

                        The problem is defensively he is a liability, so in the big games do we try to get on the front foot with Zinchenko and risk being exposed?