Done Deal: Gabriel is NOT HAPPY that Arsenal is set to complete signing of World-class player, here is why?

.Deal: Gabriel is NOT HAPPY that Arsenal is set to complete signing of World-class player, here is why?

Rio Ferdinand has predicted which Arsenal defender will lose his place once Jurrien Timber completes his move to the club.

David Ornstein revealed in a report for The Athletic on Wednesday that Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Timber from Ajax. They will be paying the Eredivisie side an initial fee of €40m (£34.3m) and €5m (£4.3m) in achievable bonuses.

With Timber due to undergo a medical for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be able to start thinking about how to get the most out of his new addition.

Timber is a centre-half who can also play at right-back if necessary. Arsenal’s main centre-back partnership last season consisted of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, with Rob Holding and Jakub Kiwior in reserve.

Meanwhile, Benjamin White covered at right-back, remaining the first choice there instead of the more natural option, Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Signing Timber will be another strong statement of intent by Arsenal. Ahead of their return to Champions League football, they are improving the quality and quantity in their squad.

According to Ferdinand – who used to play in defence for another of Timber’s admirers – Timber should slot into the starting lineup next to Saliba (i.e. in Gabriel’s place).

Ferdinand said on his Five YouTube channel: “Manchester United were in for him before they got Lisandro Martinez.

“They didn’t manage to get that deal done but he was one of the players that was being earmarked by Erik ten Hag – who obviously fancies him as a player, rates him highly obviously, had him at Ajax.

“He’s quick, he can play, he’s good on the ball and he’ll be a good addition to their team. I think he’s an improvement on what they’ve got as well.

“I’d probably look at it and say Timber and William Saliba would play.

“But I think it’s a good battle there. If Timber comes in and they’ve got Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White and Timber as a four, I’d be very, very comfortable with that if I was Mikel Arteta and think, that’s a good four.

“I think you need three or four good centre-backs that are all going to interchange and play at different times of the season, to come in and the standard doesn’t drop off.

“And I think that’s what they’ll be looking at there with them four. He’ll be a great addition, can play in different positions as well.”

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Pundits put pressure on Gabriel after Arsenal pursuit of Timber
Ferdinand is not the only pundit to be predicting a reduction in gametime for Gabriel.

Speaking to Football Insider, Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested the Brazilian should start the season as a first choice, but will be pushed away as soon as one of his two ‘trademark’ flaws surfaces.

Agbonlahor said: “I think for the start of the season, Gabriel should keep his place.

“When they played him with Saliba at the start of the season, they were both phenomenal.

“He has got the odd mistake in him, Gabriel, but even with a mistake he is better than Holding.

“But bringing in Timber really puts the pressure on him. It says – first mistake, and you’re out.

“We can’t afford for you to do your trademark conceding a penalty, your trademark lack of concentration – because these are the big boy competitions.

“The Champions League is tough every single week. It’s going to be a case of one mistake and Gabriel is out.”