Jurrien Timber says we’ll need to take our performance to another level to come away from The City Ground with three points on Wednesday.
After suffering a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham United on the weekend, we travel north to face a high-flying Nottingham Forest side who are one place and six points below us in the Premier League table.
“It’s going to be a really tough game,” Timber said. “I’ve never played there but I heard about it. They’re doing really well but it’s the same for every game. West Ham at home isn’t easy. We weren’t good but there are no easy games in the Premier League so on Wednesday we have to be at our best to win at Nottingham.
“We have the responsibility to play better. We have a lot of confidence in our club and we have to show that on the pitch.”
“We know we’ve been through a lot this season but still I think we have enough quality in the team to win these games, especially in this part of the season.”
"Left-back was a bit new, but I think when I started playing there last year I did well and it gave me confidence."
Asked if we now need to earn maximum points to stand a chance of lifting the league title, Timber said we have to maintain a positive mentality.
“There are still 12 games to go, we have to stay positive, try to win everything and play as good as we can,” he explained. “From there we’ll see. That’s the only mentality we can have right now.
“I really believe in our group, our manager does as well. I know how good we are and that’s why that feeling inside your tummy about Saturday isn’t a nice one because you know we can do much better than we did. From now on we have to do that, for sure.”
Timber also commented on the Champions League draw, which pitted us against PSV Eindhoven - a rival of his former club Ajax.
“Dutch teams are always difficult, they can always surprise you, but I think Arsenal played against them two seasons in a row and didn’t win away, so they know how difficult it is to play there,” he added. “It will be a nice game and I’ll probably have a lot of family coming there because it’s in the Netherlands of course, but it’s a nice draw for me as well.
“It doesn’t feel like home at all because it’s PSV, but the country and I know some players from PSV, playing against one of my better friends, which is fun, so I’m looking forward to that.”
After signing for us in the summer of 2023, Timber suffered a long-term injury that kept him out for much of his debut season, but now he’s settled in comfortably and has the versatility to play a number of positions across our back line.
“The team start to get to know me because I’m playing, but also this team is so easy to come into,” he said. “That helped a lot. I made friends quick, everyone around the team has been really friendly so that makes it easy for me.
“The players around me are so good so that makes it a bit easier. They help me really well. I’m also a bit used to playing multiple positions because I’ve done it before. Left-back was a bit new, but I think when I started playing there last year I did well and it gave me confidence. You adjust because you have to.
“[Gabriel and Saliba] bring everything to be the best in the world. The mentality to go on the pitch every time with that speaks for itself and for me it’s a privilege to play with them.”
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