Arsenal defender, Jurrien Timber, is determined to turn the heartbreak of their last-minute defeat at Aston Villa into fuel for their Premier League title chase.
The Gunners’ 18-match unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an abrupt end as Emiliano Buendia struck with the final kick to hand Villa a 2-1 victory.
The result proved costly for Mikel Arteta’s side, with their lead at the top of the table shrinking to just two points following Manchester City’s win over Sunderland.
Despite the setback, Timber, who was drafted into centre-back duty due to an injury crisis, believes the loss can be a source of motivation.
“I think in the end you need to use it as a motivation and in the end as a strength, because it happened and we need to accept it and we need to get better,” he told the Independent.
“At the same time, within the season, I think these moments happen, set-backs, and you just have to step up after that.”
Timber, normally a right-back, filled in at the heart of the defence after William Saliba and Gabriel were sidelined with injuries.
With Cristhian Mosquera also out for “weeks” due to an ankle problem, Timber admits the spate of fitness issues has disrupted Arsenal’s campaign.
