Premier League legend Alan Shearer has praised Arsenal’s full-backs Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, highlighting their immense impact on Mikel Arteta’s side this season.
Speaking after Arsenal’s dominant display against Burnley, Shearer was full of admiration for how the pair have transformed the team’s play both defensively and in attack.
“Such an important role is played by the two full-backs, cc,” Shearer noted. “Their stats really are off the charts. It would be easy to say, ‘well okay, because they dominated for large periods vs Burnley, particularly in the first half’. This is not today, this is all season. Against Burnley was just another great example of what a great strength it is to have them both.”
Timber and Calafiori have become integral to Arteta’s tactical setup, often stepping into midfield to overload possession or pushing high to stretch opposition lines. Their composure on the ball, positional awareness, and ability to transition quickly have given Arsenal a new dynamic edge this campaign.
“It’s something that we maybe haven’t picked out before, but it’s something very different, and those two players give great options for Arsenal in those forward positions, and have done all season,” Shearer added.
The praise comes as Arsenal continue to impress at both ends of the pitch — boasting one of the best defensive records in the league while maintaining their attacking flair. With Timber and Calafiori leading from the back, the Gunners’ tactical flexibility looks stronger than ever as they continue their title push.
