Jurrien Timber is the latest player to admit he was convinced to choose Arsenal through a conversation with Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal have shown a willingness to invest significant funds in recent transfer windows, as the club push to compete at the top of the Premier League and in the Champions League.
But a consistent theme across those windows has been the impact of Mikel Arteta in convincing Arsenal’s targets to choose north London over the alternatives.
Jurrien Timber is the latest player to admit that a conversation with the Arsenal boss helped to make up his mind.
“Sometimes it is just a feeling,” Timber said on why he chose to join Arsenal. “The way they play, the way I talk with the trainer (Arteta). I just had a good feeling with it.
“I am living the dream to be honest. I am still feeling like I am in a dream.
“It is a beautiful club. Look at last year. Of course, the previous years were beautiful but last year you saw a major step. The team grows and I want to be a part of it.”
According to reports, Timber signed a deal with Arsenal lasting until 2028, and Ajax officially confirmed the fee of €40m (£34.3m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses.
Timber made 47 appearances for Ajax in the 2022/23 campaign, and he’s also a Dutch international, playing 15 times for the national team.
But the defender is now an Arsenal man, and he made an impressive cameo appearance in his unofficial debut on Wednesday.
The plan appears to be to use him at right-back, despite his capabilities to play at centre-back or in midfield.
Arteta and Edu reportedly believe Timber is capable of operating as an inverted right-back at Arsenal, playing in midfield when the team are in possession. Oleksandr Zinchenko played that role on the other side last season.
Arteta clearly managed to get across to Timber his role in the squad, and the early signs are that he’s a great fit for this Arsenal side.
Next up, Arsenal take on Manchester United and Timber’s former coach Erik ten Hag, and the Dutch international is likely to get another chance to show what he can do.