The West Ham midfielder and Ajax defender are set to join for a combined £145million over the coming days, taking Arsenal’s spending to over £200m with the window just a few weeks old.
Kai Havertz has already joined for £65m to bolster Mikel Arteta’s attack but Rio Ferdinand believes another attacker is still needed to cap a fine summer spending spree.
Speaking about Timber on his ‘Vibe With Five’ YouTube show, Ferdinand said: “I still think maybe you need one more, an attacking player, to cover those positions, especially the wide areas.
“Kai Havertz maybe could dovetail out there at times, but I think you still need one. I think you can’t afford to let Bukayo Saka play another full season not missing any games.
“He may have missed one or two here and there, but he played too many games last season for a young kid, he’s going to burn out. I think you need to save him a little bit and have moments where you pull him out of the team and there won’t be a big drop-off in output.”
Ferdinand also spoke about incoming signing Timber, insisting he will take Gabriel Magalhaes’ starting spot next season.
Timber can play at both centre-back and right-back, with Ben White’s spot thought to be the most under threat, but Ferdinand believes it is Gabriel who can expect more time on the bench next season.
He said: “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.”