Mikel Arteta has expressed his frustration and disappointment over Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham, acknowledging that his team’s performance was far below the required standard to compete effectively for the Premier League title.
The match, which took place at the London Stadium, saw Arsenal struggle against a well-organized West Ham side. The decisive moment came in the first half when Jarrod Bowen found the back of the net, handing the Hammers a crucial lead that they successfully defended for the remainder of the game.
The defeat marked Arsenal’s third loss in the Premier League this season, bringing an end to their impressive 15-game unbeaten streak. Despite dominating possession and attempting 20 shots throughout the game, the Gunners could only register two shots on target, highlighting their inefficiency in front of goal.
Arsenal’s woes were compounded in the 73rd minute when Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card following a VAR review, reducing the team to 10 men and making their uphill battle even more challenging.
A visibly furious Arteta did not shy away from taking responsibility for his side’s underwhelming display, making it clear that accountability extends to the entire squad.
“I am very disappointed, and to be honest, I am very angry as well,” Arteta stated in his post-match interview.
“We failed to meet the high standards expected of us today, and as the manager, I take full responsibility for that. However, every player in the squad must also take accountability because this was nowhere near the level required to challenge for the Premier League title.”
Arsenal entered the match missing several key attacking players, but Arteta refused to use injuries as an excuse for their poor display. Instead, he emphasized the need for his squad to step up, regardless of the circumstances.
Due to these absences, Mikel Merino, a midfielder, was deployed in an unorthodox striker role. However, the experiment did not yield the desired results, as Arsenal lacked creativity and a cutting edge in the final third.
“I will not use injuries as an excuse,” Arteta asserted. “We have the players, and we should have done much better. The performance today was simply not good enough, and if we continue playing at this level, we will not have a chance to win the Premier League.”
The loss leaves Arsenal trailing eight points behind league leaders Liverpool, with only 12 matches remaining in the season. With the title race heating up, the Gunners will need to respond quickly to avoid further setbacks.
Next up for Arsenal is a crucial away fixture against Nottingham Forest, a match that will be pivotal in determining their ability to bounce back from this disappointing defeat. Arteta is expected to demand an immediate reaction from his players as they look to keep their
title hopes alive.