Mikel Areta did not want to accuse the most important forward player to Arsenal’s shock against West Ham United in the Emirates stage.
Shortly before half-time, Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the game to finish Arsenal’s 15-game manner run, and also added a first home defeat in Areteta’s team this season.
Arsenal had only two shots on the goal throughout the game and creativity was missing throughout. Captain Martin Odegaard was not even able to remove the resistant defense of West Ham, who had assured himself through a three-front-three front of the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, the provisional center forwarder Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard.
Although Areta was due to an injury without Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli, he did not want to use this as an excuse and admitted that he was “very angry” with the performance of his players.
“No, no and I completely lean it because I talk about the standards of the players and the team that we played today,” said Arteta, asked Spitz whether the missing personnel was a factor. “And that was by no means the levels we have to meet to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.
“Today, no, we were very consistent, yes, but football is about what they are today and today, nowhere near.
“Yes, very disappointed, obviously very angry. I think you have to congratulate West Ham on the victory and the game you played,” he continued. “But I also think a lot from our side that we have never done right and have not allowed you to get enough dynamics, enough play sequence with positive actions that could lead to threats in situations.
“And although the ball we had, and 20 shots of it, I never had the feeling that we were on the standard and the level that we needed. First, to have more threats and then not to allow to run Because we have lost a lot of balls that we West Ham allowed to run in very dangerous positions.
“We have to be [angry at ourselves]I hope we are very much because we have not reached the levels today and I am very responsible for it, so I’m very, very angry. “
Arsenal remains eight points behind the leaders Liverpool, who appeared in two of the last three Premier League outings and could perform until the end of the weekend until the end of the weekend when the red ones in the Etihad stadium knock down the reigning champions Manchester City.