Mikel Arteta has slammed Arsenal for being ‘nowhere near the levels’ required to win the Premier League following his side’s 1-0 loss to West Ham.
Jarrod Bowen‘s strike just before half-time at the Emirates proved to be the difference as the Gunners dropped to their third defeat of the season with their 15-game unbeaten streak coming to an end.
AFPArteta did not hide his anger after the loss to West Ham[/caption]
A red card to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 73rd minute did little to help Arsenal’s cause as they missed out on the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead at the top to five points.
And Arteta was left bitterly frustrated as Arsenal created next to nothing as they lost at home to the Hammers for the second successive season.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, he said: “Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well.
“We didn’t hit the levels of today and I am very much responsible of that so I am very, very angry.”
Arteta also refused to use the lack of attackers at his disposal as an excuse for his side’s toothless display up front.
Mikel Merino, a central midfielder, was named up top for the Gunners with Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri on the flanks.
In total, Arsenal took 20 shots, but just two of those landed on target.
Yet Arteta bemoaned a lack of quality from his entire squad as the primary reason for the defeat.
“I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included,” he remarked.
“That was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.
“We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, nowhere near.”
The loss to West Ham now leaves the Gunners’ title hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
With Liverpool drawing to Everton and Aston Villa recently, Arsenal had the chance to keep the pressure on Arne Slot‘s men.
But the loss to West Ham leaves the margin at eight points with 12 games remaining ahead of Liverpool’s clash away at Manchester City on Sunday.
“I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played,” Arteta added.
“But as well I think a lot from our side that we never got right and they didn’t allow us to get enough momentum, enough sequence of play with positive action that could deliver into situations of threat for them.”
GettyArsenal’s quest for a first Premier League title since 2004 seems set to continue[/caption]
Arteta and his troops must now quickly switch focus to Wednesday’s trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest.
He will also be without Lewis-Skelly as one of his defensive options.
The teenager brought down Mohamed Kudus as the Ghanaian looked to break towards goal with no defensive cover nearby.
It was initially given a yellow card, but following a VAR review, it was upgraded to a straight red.
Lewis-Skelly’s sending off was his second in his last four league fixtures, with the other coming in a 1-0 win over Wolves.
However, it was later overturned upon appeal.