Time to Go: Why Arteta Must Ditch Arsenal “Liability” Who Earns More Than Timber & Gabriel
Arsenal’s draw against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon may have felt like two points dropped at the final whistle, but it signifies the club’s remarkable transformation under Mikel Arteta.
Gone are the days when Arsenal would be dismantled and embarrassed by top teams. Under Arteta’s guidance, the team has evolved into a formidable force, with a defence that could be considered one of the best in Europe, if not the best in England.
Key players such as Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, and the newly added Jurrien Timber form the foundation of a team that appears capable of ending Arsenal’s two-decade-long Premier League title drought, whether it happens this season or next.
Despite the team’s progress, there are still some players in the squad whose contributions may no longer be sufficient for the club’s ambitions. Notably, one of these players is earning more than Gabriel and Timber, despite their pivotal roles in the squad.
What Gabriel and Timber Earn at Arsenal
Arsenal paid approximately £23 million to Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille in the summer of 2020 to secure the services of a 22-year-old Gabriel. At the time, the signing didn’t attract much fanfare, but the Brazilian has since become a crucial part of Arteta’s squad.
In his first two seasons with the club, Gabriel showed steady progress. Despite some criticisms from figures in the media, such as Rio Ferdinand, regarding his alleged recklessness, he was rewarded with a new £100k-per-week contract in October 2022. His performances since have more than justified the faith Arteta placed in him.
Last season, the 26-year-old defender was ever-present in Arsenal’s backline, helping the team produce the best defense in the Premier League. Over 137 league appearances, he has scored 16 goals, averaging one goal every 8.56 matches.
Similar to Gabriel, Jurrien Timber has now become a key figure in Arsenal’s defence. This is impressive considering it’s his first full run of games since recovering from an ACL injury that sidelined him for most of the previous season.
The former Ajax player has already demonstrated versatility in his six appearances this season, playing both on the left and right sides of the back-four and even stepping into defensive midfield.
His performances have been highly rated, including 8/10 ratings for his displays against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City from the Standard’s Simon Collings.
Despite his contributions, the 23-year-old Timber remains on his initial contract, earning around £100k-per-week. Like Gabriel, his salary is notably lower than that of some of his teammates, including one who might not remain with the club beyond this season.
What Oleksandr Zinchenko Earns at Arsenal
The player being discussed is former Manchester City star, Oleksandr Zinchenko, who may face a significant challenge in regaining his place in the starting lineup, assuming that is still a possibility.
The Ukraine international made a £30 million transfer to North London in July 2022. Similar to his ex-City teammate Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko brought an immediate impact to an Arsenal team that had narrowly missed out on a top-four finish.
During his debut season with Arsenal, the 27-year-old featured in 33 matches. If it hadn’t been for recurring injuries affecting his calves and knees, his appearance count would have likely been higher.
| Zinchenko’s Arsenal career | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| Appearances | 33 | 35 | 2 |
| Injuries | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Goals | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Assists | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Stats Source: Transfermarkt | |||
Despite his ability to maintain control when the Gunners had possession, criticism of his defensive reliability grew too loud to ignore. Gary Neville notably referred to him as a “liability” during Arsenal’s match at Anfield last season.
The Radomyshl-born defender’s struggles with defensive issues remained a topic of discussion. Even after regaining fitness later in the season, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu replaced him in the lineup.
During this summer’s transfer window, the club spent £42 million, including add-ons, to acquire Riccardo Calafiori, another defender proficient at left-back. With Timber also on the team, it seems unlikely that he will get much playing time once he recovers from his current calf injury.
Given that he earns £150k per week and may now be Arsenal’s third-choice left-back, Arteta must consider moving him on in January or the summer. This decision could benefit both the player’s career and the team’s wage structure.
In other Arsenal news, Chris Sutton Calls Out Man City Player for What He Said About Arsenal After PL Clash
