Jurrien Timber says Arsenal ‘need to address’ managing late game anxiety | OneFootball

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber says his side must address how to handle nervousness as the Premier League title race enters its closing stages.

The Dutchman scored the winner in a tight and tense affair at the Emirates against Chelsea, which saw the Gunners move five points clear of Manchester City who are in second place.

Having dropped just two points from winning positions in the league during the first part of the season, Arsenal have already dropped seven points in 2026, after draws against Brentford and Wolves, and a defeat to Manchester United.

Timber acknowledged the nerves within the team and supporters, and has called on his side to address the issue, whilst praising his team-mates’ resilience to see out the win against Chelsea.

“You feel it, especially at the end,” Timber said. “We stopped playing a bit, which was unnecessary – especially with a man up. It’s something we need to work on, talk about as well because it happened a couple of times this season already.

“Especially because we put so much effort into the game, especially in the first half, and you have to go up 1-0 or 2-0 already, but these things, they happen – especially like a good team like Chelsea.

“This season we got through it, when things got nervous. But a couple of times we didn’t. It’s part of the game, you have to understand what happens in the moment. The energy within the players and the crowd, the anxiety. It’s something we need to address and talk about. But we handled it well today.

“David made a good save, some good defensive actions as well with Big Gabi. These actions you need in the game at this end of the season, they can define a season.”