Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal’s performance in their defeat against West Ham was far below the standard required to win the Premier League, urging his players to “feel the pain” before their next match against Nottingham Forest. A frustrated Arteta watched as his side struggled to break down a disciplined West Ham team, with Jarrod Bowen’s goal securing a crucial three points for the hosts.
Arsenal’s hopes of keeping pace in the title race took a significant hit with the loss, leaving them eight points behind league leaders Liverpool. With Liverpool set to face Manchester City on Sunday, the gap could widen further, adding more pressure on Arsenal to respond.
West Ham’s victory was sealed by Bowen, who netted his 50th Premier League goal in a game where Arsenal lacked attacking edge. The situation was made worse when young midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly received a red card in the second half for a foul on Mohammed Kudus. It was a moment reminiscent of his sending-off against Wolves last month, although that decision was overturned. This time, with VAR intervening, the likelihood of a successful appeal seems slim, meaning he will miss the crucial clash against Forest on Wednesday.
Despite missing several key attackers, Arteta refused to use injuries as an excuse. He was forced to play Mikel Merino in an unfamiliar centre-forward role but insisted that the team’s overall performance not the lack of attacking options was the problem.
“We are very disappointed and very, very angry as well,” Arteta said. “I never felt that we were at the level that is required, and I am very much responsible for that. We have to look in the mirror at ourselves and see what we can do better. The desire, the way we ran, and the way we wanted it there’s no question about that. But today, we were nowhere near where we needed to be.”
When asked if the struggles in attack were due to missing players, Arteta dismissed the idea. “No, I refuse that completely. The team that played today, me included, was nowhere near the level needed to win the Premier League. Football is about what you do today, and today we weren’t good enough.”
The manager also emphasized the need for his squad to process the frustration and use it as motivation. “First of all, suffer—24 to 48 hours, suffer. Feel the pain. And make sure we come back on Monday with that bite and that anger still in the stomach for Wednesday.”
For West Ham, this was a much-needed victory, marking only their second win under new manager Graham Potter. The team showed defensive resilience and tactical discipline, qualities that have been inconsistent since Potter took charge. He praised his squad’s attitude and determination, highlighting the importance of the win.
“We’re delighted. The players have had a tough week, but I’m really pleased with the way they responded,” Potter said. “We had to suffer at times, but I’m delighted for the players and the supporters. It’s a really positive day for us.”
As Arsenal now shift their focus to Nottingham Forest, they will need to find solutions quickly. With key players still missing and pressure mounting, Arteta’s side cannot afford another slip-up if they want to keep their title ambitions alive.
