Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did not hold back in his criticism after his team fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against West Ham on Saturday.
The Gunners, aiming for their first Premier League title in 21 years, saw their hopes take a major hit as they suffered their first home loss of the season, leaving them eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen scored the decisive goal just before halftime, marking his 50th Premier League goal. Arsenal’s problems were compounded when Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card in the 72nd minute, making him the fifth Arsenal player to be sent off this season.
Liverpool, despite recent struggles, now have a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top. A win against Manchester City on Sunday could see them open up an 11-point advantage, making Arsenal’s title pursuit even more challenging.
Following the match, a visibly frustrated Arteta expressed his disappointment. “It’s not in our hands anymore,” he admitted. “What frustrates me most is that we failed to control what was in our hands – our performance and the result. We didn’t perform at the level required, and that’s unacceptable.”
Despite dominating possession and registering 20 shots, Arsenal struggled to find the back of the net. Arteta acknowledged the team’s effort but emphasized that it wasn’t enough.
“We have to be angry, we should be angry,” he insisted. “We didn’t hit our standards today, and as the manager, I take full responsibility.”
Arsenal’s attacking lineup has been severely weakened by injuries, with key forwards Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka all sidelined. Midfielder Mikel Merino was forced to step in as a makeshift striker, but the team lacked the cutting edge needed to break West Ham’s defense.
Despite these challenges, Arteta refused to use injuries as an excuse. “I won’t accept that as a reason,” he said firmly. “The team we put out today was capable of meeting our standards, but we fell short. That’s the reality.”
Arteta called for introspection, urging his players to reflect on their performance and take responsibility. “We need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves what we can do better,” he said.
“The desire and effort were there, but at this level, that alone is not enough. We need to deliver with quality and create more threatening moments to win games.”
With time running out in the title race, Arsenal must regroup quickly if they are to keep their dreams alive. Their response in the coming matches will determine whether they can mount a serious challenge or if another season of near misses awaits.