The concern
Arsenal are reportedly making great progress in talks with Ajax over the summer transfer of centre-back Jurrien Timber.
The Netherlands international is only 1.82m tall (about six feet), which seems to cause some concern among some Gunners' fans on social media.
The numbers
Stats (as per SofaScore.com) show that the 22-year-old has won only 43 per cent of his aerial battles in the Eredivisie this season (1.3 per game). For refence, William Saliba has won 55 per cent of his (2.0 per game).
The Dutchman is also not the stockiest defender out there, his weight being 79 kg. While none of that suggests that Timber will be bullied for every aerial battle, he may find it tough to adapt to the Premier League's intense physicality.
The decision
All of this could be a cause of some alarm but Mikel Arteta would still want to bring the defender to Arsenal this summer — and here's why.
Timber is a versatile player (he can also play as a right-back or a defensive midfielder), great at moving the ball forward and an overall solid defender.
The Spaniard will surely aim to dominate possession next season, which means fewer chances for the opponents over the course of the campaign.
A football analyst — and die-hard Manchester United fan Statman Dave — stated last year that small pacy centre-backs are actually the future of football.
Dave addresses the issue at 2:25:
The conclusion
Yes, Timber may be vulnerable in the air but his strengths and compatibility with the modern game seem to outweigh his weaknesses under the right manager.
And after all, height isn't the only thing to judge a player by. Lisandro Martinez, Timber's former teammate at Ajax, stands at about the same height but is currently a key player at Man United.
