Arsenal’s William Saliba faces awkward first chat with Jurrien Timber

Arsenal star William Saliba faces an awkward first chat with incoming Gunners signing Jurrien Timber. The Frenchman has signed a new contract and also pinched the shirt number that his fellow defender was eyeing up.

Saliba has signed a new four-year contract to keep him at the Emirates until the summer of 2027. He had been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain after an impressive first season in the Premier League.

He will soon be joined in the squad by Timber, who is due for a medical after a deal was agreed with Ajax. The Netherlands international is set to sign for an initial fee of around £34million.

Timber spent the majority of last season as a centre-back at Ajax. But he is also accomplished at right-back and Mikel Arteta is planning to use him in that position.

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Timber wore the No 2 shirt at Ajax and has also donned that jersey for the majority of his international career to date. He was tipped to take the number at Arsenal after it was vacated by Hector Bellerin late last summer.

But instead it will be Saliba who will wear the No 2. Saliba had No 2 during his loan at Marseille but had the No 12 in his first full campaign in the Arsenal first team.

The new contract has seen him change and take the number Timber would have been eyeing up. The news of Saliba’s renewal will come as a relief to Arsenal supporters.

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Arsenal’s new kit for 2023/2024 is a stylish twist on a classic as it reinvents that mid-1990s vibe. A truly modern-looking shirt with a homage to the past, the Nike kit also includes a nod to the club’s iconic Invincible’s side in the finer details while catching the eye with the lightning bolt motif

He made an immediate impression when given the chance by Arteta at the start of last season. After a couple of years out on loan, Saliba finally made his Arsenal debut and didn’t look back.

He played every Premier League match until suffering a back injury in March which ultimately forced him out for the remainder of the season. Many believe his absence played a big part in Arsenal’s downfall in the title race.

Upon the news of Saliba’s new contract, Arteta said: “To have William extend his contract with us was something we have wanted to do for a long time. William proved last season just how good and how important he is to our squad.

“The ability he has at his young age of just 22 is exciting, and there is of course so much more room for development with any player at this stage of their career. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with William in the years to come.”

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