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Jurrien Timber was one of several Arsenal heroes on Sunday as the Dutchman nodded home Declan Rice's second-half corner against Chelsea to restore the Gunners' five-point lead at the top of the Premier League
Jurrien Timber wants Arsenal to start going for the kill in the Premier League title race.
Mikel Arteta's indispensable full-back headed the winner to down Chelsea on Sunday but notes the Gunners made hard work of the victory which restored their five-point lead at the summit.
In his mind, they need to start putting matches to bed to preserve energy levels. Exhausted Timber said of the tension inside the Emirates during the closing stages of the contest: "Of course you feel it, especially at the end.
"I think we stopped playing a bit, which was unnecessary - especially with a man up. I think it is something we need to work on and talk about as well, because I think it happened a couple of times this season already.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page "And especially because you put so much effort into the game, you play such a good game, especially in the first half, and you have to go up 1-0 or 2-0 already.
"But then things like this, they happen - especially against a good team like Chelsea - so it is definitely something we need to speak about."
Arsenal travel to Brighton on Wednesday while City entertain relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners are now just nine games from glory but Timber has warned his team-mates that there is still such a long way to go, even though the finish line is now in sight.
He continued: "From the beginning of the season already, every performance, every three points, they count.
"At the same time, I heard it is just nine games to go, but it feels like we are still so far off because we are playing in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
"There are so many games to play. Game by game, if we look too far ahead it becomes a bit too much. So for now, we recover and look at Brighton."
Outside of Arsenal's previous shortcomings, Timber is one of only few Gunners stars to have experienced coming out on the right side of a nail-biting title race.
He was part of the Ajax side that pipped PSV to the Eredivisie crown by just two points in 2022. However, Timber concedes the Premier League is a different beast - particularly when Manchester City have placed a target on your back.
The Dutchman explained when asked if he'll be offering any advice: "It is hard, because you don’t want to act like you are the one that knows everything or that you are the wise one.
"At the same time, it is so different. Every season is so different, but also the Premier League is so different compared to the Dutch league.
"Just trying to take the experiences as well from myself, knowing how important these last games are, but I think everyone knows it. The coach knows it really well and it is going to be exciting, but a good one."
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