Arsenal sit top of the Premier League after seven games and while much of the early-season focus has been on their title challenge and defence, Jurrien Timber’s influence on the right side of their back four has been just as vital.
The Dutch international, who missed most of his first season with a serious knee injury, has returned, and not only has he re-established himself at Arsenal, but he’s elevated the side. His form this season suggests he is now arguably the Premier League’s best right-back, particularly in possession and attacking phases.
Data from Opta via FBref shows just how complete his start to the 2025-26 campaign has been. The radar charts compare his percentile rankings against other Premier League full-backs: a measure of how often he outperforms his peers in specific metrics. A percentile of 80, for instance, means he’s better than 80% of full-backs in that category.
Defensively, the 24-year-old’s numbers reflect the control and composure that have defined Arsenal’s start. He ranks high for tackles and interceptions, showing his sharp reading of the game and timing in duels. He’s also notably low for errors, a key marker of reliability in a title-challenging team that often dominates possession but must deal with high-risk transitions.
While his aerial numbers are steady rather than spectacular, that’s partly a reflection of Arsenal’s tactical setup – rarely forced into long, direct duels – rather than a weakness in his game.
Where Timber really separates himself is in the attacking and build-up metrics. The radar graph above shows elite percentile ranks for shot-creating actions (SCA), passes completed, carries into the final third, and key passes.
These figures point to a defender who not only builds play but drives it forward, breaking lines, creating overloads and contributing directly to Arsenal’s attacking fluency. His confidence in stepping into midfield mirrors the hybrid full-back role perfected under Mikel Arteta, offering both structure and unpredictability in possession.
The Dutch international’s shot-creating actions (actions leading to a shot, such as a progressive pass or dribble) are among the highest for Premier League full-backs, underlining his evolution into a genuine attacking outlet and not just a supporting presence. Hence, he ranks in the 98th percentile for shots on target among full-backs and has helped himself to two Premier League goals already this season.
All of a sudden, you’re not only worrying about Bukayo Saka on Arsenal’s right-hand side, but Timber too. His overlapping runs and willingness to attack the half-space have forced opposition defences to stretch wider, creating more room for Saka to isolate defenders or drift centrally. It’s that dual threat that has made their right flank arguably the most dangerous in the Premier League right now.
It’s worth a caveat: we are only seven games into the Premier League season and Arsenal have enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in most fixtures. That naturally boosts some of Timber’s passing and attacking numbers.
Even so, the consistency and control he has brought in this campaign are undeniable. From his press resistance to his precision in build-up, Timber has become the embodiment of Arteta’s blueprint – calm, intelligent, and technically elite.
If he sustains this form, he won’t just be a key reason Arsenal stay top. He could be the player who sets the standard for modern full-backs in the Premier League.
