Arsenal defender Jurriën Timber wants to channel the frustration of their late 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa into renewed focus and momentum for the title push. Timber, who lined up at center-back due to an injury crisis, witnessed his side’s 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions end when Emiliano Buendía struck in stoppage time to hand Villa the win. The loss also tightened Manchester City’s grip on the pace at the top after City’s victory over Sunderland, narrowing Arsenal’s lead to two points.
Timber emphasized turning the setback into fuel for improvement. “Ultimately, it’s about using it as motivation and becoming stronger because it happened. We must accept it, learn from it, and get better,” he said. He also noted that such moments—setbacks and injuries—are part of the season and require resilience: stepping up when needed and staying focused on the next game.
With Timber operating in central defense, alongside the absent William Saliba and Gabriel, Arsenal have relied on alternative options as Cristhian Mosquera also battles a weeks-long ankle issue. Timber acknowledged the disruption to the squad but remained confident in the depth available. “We have a strong squad; players coming in usually perform well. It’s not always easy, and we can’t rotate through every match, but this is part of the season’s reality. We must manage it and win our games,” he added.
Villa’s victory amplified their surge in form, establishing a title-chasing atmosphere as they moved within three points of Arsenal. The match began with Matty Cash’s opener for Villa, but Leandro Trossard equalized early in the second half, setting up a dramatic finale when Buendía’s late winner sealed the three points. Cash, speaking to the club’s official channels, urged focus on the next match and maintaining consistency: “Take it game by game, keep working hard, and stay demanding. We’re in a great run, but there’s still a long way to go.”
