Jurrien Timber wants Arsenal to start killing off opponents in the Premier League title race. Mikel Arteta's indispensable full-back headed in the winner to defeat Chelsea on Sunday but acknowledges the Gunners made hard work of the victory which restored their five-point advantage at the summit.
In his view, they must start putting matches to bed to conserve energy in the run-in after an unnecessarily dramatic finish against the Blues which saw David Raya required to pull off a brilliant late save. An 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.
"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."
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Arsenal travel to Brighton tomorrow whilst City entertain relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners are now just nine matches from glory but Timber has cautioned his team-mates that there remains a long way to go - even if 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."
Timber also lauded goalkeeper David Raya following a series of vital saves. Speaking about the Spanish shot-stopper, he said: "David is amazing. I think often he shows that he wins us games. He has a lot of magic moments. He is an amazing keeper, great character, a leader in our group and we are very happy to have him."