Arsenal didn’t look like title contenders in West Ham loss

LONDON — The debate over whether or not Arsenal can deal with a Premier League title run-in simply grew louder.

After falling brief final season regardless of holding an eight-point lead firstly of April, the principal problem this time round for supervisor Mikel Arteta was evolving the Gunners right into a extra strong proposition to final the tempo.

There had been clear indicators of progress in that regard this season, however the method of Thursday’s 2-0 defeat to West Ham will spark acquainted questions on whether or not Arsenal can triumph in what’s threatening to be a multiway battle to be champions.

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A row will proceed over the opening objective given the ball might have drifted out of play as Jarrod Bowen pulled it again for Tomás Soucek to attain after 13 minutes. VAR official Craig Pawson took a protracted look however no digicam angle may conclusively overturn the on-field resolution and a objective was awarded.

Regardless, Arsenal lacked the composure related to serial title-winners. Their defending — which led to Gabriel Magalhaes hitting the ball in opposition to Oleksandr Zinchenko to offer Bowen an opportunity to pounce — was calamitous on the primary objective. Their response in possession was much more troubling. Wasting possibilities at one finish and conceding one other delicate objective on the different was a recipe for catastrophe.

The pre-match discuss of a summer time signing coming again to hang-out his former membership got here to move however not in the way anybody anticipated. This ended up being an evening to overlook for Declan Rice as ex-Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos scored his first Premier League objective with a superb Fifty fifth-minute header.

After excelling for his new membership repeatedly this season, Rice endured the taunts of West Ham followers for the ultimate 20 minutes or so right here because of his £105 million summer time transfer to Emirates Stadium. Rice’s type has been a giant issue in Arsenal’s obvious evolution however, in a second that completely encapsulated their regression right here, he gave away a penalty in stoppage time, bringing arguably the most important cheer of the evening from the away finish. Few appeared to care that David Raya saved substitute Saïd Benrahma’s spot kick as the ultimate whistle got here seconds later.

Arteta has rightly praised the house ambiance in latest occasions, given the transformation from the poisonous disconnect that supplied the soundtrack to the tip of Arsene Wenger’s time in cost — however there was a stress in the air in opposition to the Hammers that didn’t dissipate all night.

There wasn’t the maturity in Arsenal’s play that we have now come to anticipate, maybe most clearly evidenced by their play in the ultimate third. Gabriel Jesus headed the ball over on 66 minutes and Martin Odegaard pressured Alphonse Areola right into a positive save on the finish, however there was little else of be aware regardless of registering 77 touches in West Ham’s field — probably the most on document since 2008-09 in a single Premier League match for a group who failed to attain.

Bukayo Saka (who hit the submit in the primary half), Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah all registered photographs on track in the ultimate 12 minutes however none of them required something apart from a easy cease by Areola. Arteta, nevertheless, believed they created sufficient to win the sport.

“When you look at how much we generated in the game, to see the result is very disappointing,” Arteta stated. “But they were better than us in both boxes. They had two shots, with the penalty three. We had 30, I don’t know how many touches in the box, how many situations, how many opportunities to score and we haven’t done it. In football you have to do that better if you want to win.

“It’s what it’s. We must attempt to generate. If we do not rating with 30 photographs, then we have now to do 50 or 60 to attempt to rating. That’s the one factor. I am unable to think about a sport the place we have now extra touches in the field, extra dominance and fewer conditions for the opponent in opposition to a extremely good West Ham facet. Today although, it wasn’t sufficient to win the sport.”

Their failure in front of goal will also only strengthen the argument a new striker is needed in January.

“All we have now is the gamers we have now, the gamers I really like probably the most,” said Arteta. “What we have now to do is attempt to get higher conditions, extra coaching, elevate the boldness and that is it. They’ve achieved it [before].”

West Ham and manager David Moyes continue to defy expectations. After winning last season’s Europa Conference League and selling Rice for a club-record fee, they now find themselves in sixth place on 33 points, the highest figure they have ever collected at this stage of a Premier League season. No wonder Moyes suggested the club is “on the point of discuss” about a new contract with his existing deal expiring at the end of the season.

Thursday was West Ham’s first win in this fixture since 2015 and, more remarkably, Moyes’ first league away win at Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester United in 73 attempts.

“Football is performed in some ways and tonight we did the half that perhaps is not talked about as a lot,” said Moyes. “Brilliant defending. We did job on Arsenal tonight. They had numerous the ball, an excessive amount of for my liking, however we did a fantastic job.”

Asked about his team’s aspirations for 2024, Moyes added: “We are usually not one of many high groups. We are attempting to rise up and develop the group.”

Arsenal, in the meantime, are in a special place. They consider they are often the highest group. But this defeat confirmed there may be extra work to do.