Timber: Arsenal must turn heartbreak into fuel for crucial run | OneFootball

Jurrien Timber insists Arsenal must convert the pain of their dramatic defeat at Aston Villa into motivation and strength as a defining run of winter fixtures awaits.

The 2–1 loss at Villa Park, sealed by a chaotic stoppage-time goal that ended the Gunners’ 18 match unbeaten streak, was as uncharacteristic as it was damaging. But for Timber, deployed as an emergency centre-back amid another wave of injuries, the setback can become a catalyst.

“We have to keep our heads up, focus on the next game, get better,” the Netherlands international told Hayters. “That’s the most important thing and go from there.”

Two wins in five league games, draws at Chelsea and Sunderland, and now a defeat to one of the division’s form teams have sharpened external doubts. 

The narrative swirling around manager Mikel Arteta now asks whether this marks the beginning of another wobble. Yes, Manchester City lurk once more in second place. But Arsenal’s display in the Midlands offered some encouragement to counter the doomsday tone.

Arteta’s side face a demanding schedule that will test both their depth and resilience. On Wednesday they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the Champions League. Wolves visit Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening, before an EFL Cup quarter-final against an in-form Crystal Palace the following midweek. Then come the festive fixtures, traditionally unforgiving and potentially decisive.

With such a workload, this period may offer Arteta a rare chance to rotate key players. Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have carried heavy minutes this season and could benefit from rest as Arsenal aim to keep their title and European campaigns firmly on track. To do that, Arteta will need several of his walking wounded not only available but performing at peak level as 2026 approaches.

That has been the story of Arsenal’s season: juggling absences across the pitch. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have all missed spells. At Villa Park, with Saliba, Mosquera and Gabriel unavailable, Timber was asked to shift inside from right-back.

He embraced the challenge, posting a verse from the Book of Joshua before kick-off, a passage promising reassurance in times of transition. “We’ve had to adapt a lot this season,” he said. “But the group stays strong.”

Even so, Arsenal’s late-game management deserted them in Birmingham. Timber admitted the players recognised the uncharacteristic loss of control.

Despite the unfamiliar back line, with Timber alongside Piero Hincapie, he refused to lean on injuries as an excuse. “It’s a different position and different things are being asked, but you try to stay connected with your teammates,” he said. “We missed some players, but still we could have done better. We could have won this game.”

Asked whether a defeat like this can sharpen focus in a title race, Timber pointed to its potential value. “In the end you need to use it as motivation and as a strength. These setbacks happen in a season and you just have to step up after that.”

With decisive weeks ahead and Arsenal’s squad stretched again, that response will need to come quickly.