Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has counseled his teammates against excessive optimism following their strengthened position atop the Premier League standings.
During a weekend that saw title contenders Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea all suffer defeats, Arsenal secured a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace, establishing a four-point margin over surprising second-place occupants Bournemouth.
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The victory marked Arsenal’s seventh straight triumph across all competitions, creating a six-point cushion over City and a seven-point advantage against defending champions Liverpool.
The win over London rivals Palace concluded a successful seven-day period for Mikel Arteta’s squad, which also registered their third consecutive Champions League victory through a commanding 4-0 triumph over Atletico Madrid.
Growing optimism among Arsenal supporters suggests the club may finally end their extended Premier League title drought, with their last English championship dating back to the 2003/04 campaign.
But Arsenal defender Timber said: “It is good to stay neutral, and not to get too high.
“Obviously, we’ve been doing well, but it’s still early in the season, and we just have to keep getting better game by game.”
The 24-year-old Netherlands international added: “The next game is already in three days, which is a (League) Cup match (against Brighton), and the next Premier League game (against Burnley) is going to be tough as well.
“So, let’s keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard, and then from there, we’ll see what happens.”
Arsenal’s strong campaign opening has been anchored by exceptional defensive organization, having allowed merely three goals across their initial 13 matches in all competitions, with the Palace shutout representing their fifth consecutive clean sheet.
“Everyone plays a part in it, but it’s a good thing and a good foundation to build on,” said Timber. “From that standard, you just have to keep getting better and be consistent in what we do, and then throughout the whole season, hopefully we’ll turn it into something beautiful.
“It gives you confidence and it shows that we’re doing really well, and also, if it’s for multiple games in a row, it says something about consistency.
“We just have to keep improving, and look at what we can do better, but also take that feeling with you, that confidence and go into the next game with the same mindset.”