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William Gallas names the Arsenal star who may have lost his place for good
Mikel Arteta appears to be set on his first choice back four following Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury (Picture: Getty) William Gallas fears one of Mikel Arteta’s mainstays faces an uphill struggle to win his place back in the Arsenal manager’s first XI. The Gunners are still on a high after Wednesday night’s historic win over Real Madrid where goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli put the seal on a memorable 5-1 aggregate victory. While it was, in the main, Arsenal’s forwards and man of the match Declan Rice who garnered most praise, the performances of several unsung heroes went under the radar. Jurrien Timber, for example, put in a masterful defensive display almost totally nulifying the threat of Vinicius Jr, despite knowing that one error might lead to a caution that would’ve ruled him out of the semi-final first leg. The Netherlands international’s first season as Arsenal was ruined by the cruciate knee ligament injury he sustained on his Premier League debut. Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Since returning to full fitness, Timber has established himself as a mainstay in Arsenal’s defence and has been an ultra-reliable presence at right back in place of Ben White. The former Brighton defender hardly missed a game for three seasons following his £50 million move but underwent knee surgery last year and has only just returned to fitness. Jurrien Timber kept Vinicius Jr quiet during Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid (Picture: Getty) While his versatility means he is likely to remain a long-term part of Arteta’s plans, former Arsenal defender Wiliam Gallas believes he may now be reduced to a bit-part role. ‘Jurrien Timber has set the standard so high at right back, it will be very difficult for Ben White to get his position back in the starting XI,’ Gallas told Slingo. ‘White will get minutes, but right back isn’t his main position, he was never a real right back. ‘He got a few goal contributions, but he needed to do more, like how Timber is performing.’ Ben White has struggled to win his place back in the Arsenal team since recovering from injury (Picture: Getty) He added: ‘Ben White has two options, he can stay and fight for his position and show he’s the best right back at the club, or he can ask to leave. We’ll see.’ Only last week, meanwhile, did Arteta make a point of praising Timber’s durability and the way in which he has recovered from such a serious setback. He said: ‘Incredible. Nobody probably realised the player that we signed until he stepped through that door and started to show every quality that he has on the human side because he’s a leader. ‘He had a really tough start, having a really difficult injury almost a year out, and then the way he’s been going this season, it’s just remarkable. ‘He’s in a different position with different demands but is always so consistent.’
William Gallas fears one of Mikel Arteta’s mainstays faces an uphill struggle to win his place back in the Arsenal manager’s first XI.
The Gunners are still on a high after Wednesday night’s historic win over Real Madrid where goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli put the seal on a memorable 5-1 aggregate victory.
While it was, in the main, Arsenal’s forwards and man of the match Declan Rice who garnered most praise, the performances of several unsung heroes went under the radar.
Jurrien Timber, for example, put in a masterful defensive display almost totally nulifying the threat of Vinicius Jr, despite knowing that one error might lead to a caution that would’ve ruled him out of the semi-final first leg.
The Netherlands international’s first season as Arsenal was ruined by the cruciate knee ligament injury he sustained on his Premier League debut.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Since returning to full fitness, Timber has established himself as a mainstay in Arsenal’s defence and has been an ultra-reliable presence at right back in place of Ben White.
The former Brighton defender hardly missed a game for three seasons following his £50 million move but underwent knee surgery last year and has only just returned to fitness.
While his versatility means he is likely to remain a long-term part of Arteta’s plans, former Arsenal defender Wiliam Gallas believes he may now be reduced to a bit-part role.
‘Jurrien Timber has set the standard so high at right back, it will be very difficult for Ben White to get his position back in the starting XI,’ Gallas told Slingo.
‘White will get minutes, but right back isn’t his main position, he was never a real right back.
‘He got a few goal contributions, but he needed to do more, like how Timber is performing.’
He added: ‘Ben White has two options, he can stay and fight for his position and show he’s the best right back at the club, or he can ask to leave. We’ll see.’
Only last week, meanwhile, did Arteta make a point of praising Timber’s durability and the way in which he has recovered from such a serious setback.
He said: ‘Incredible. Nobody probably realised the player that we signed until he stepped through that door and started to show every quality that he has on the human side because he’s a leader.
‘He had a really tough start, having a really difficult injury almost a year out, and then the way he’s been going this season, it’s just remarkable.
‘He’s in a different position with different demands but is always so consistent.’
