Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment with Arsenal's performance after their 1-0 defeat to West Ham, stating the team is "nowhere near the levels" required to compete for the Premier League title. This loss marked Arsenal's third defeat of the season, ending a 15-match unbeaten streak.
Jarrod Bowen's goal just before half-time proved decisive at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal's hopes of narrowing the gap to league leaders Liverpool were further hindered by a red card issued to Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 73rd minute.
Arteta criticized his team's lack of quality, despite Arsenal registering 20 shots, only two of which were on target. He emphasized that the squad's performance fell short of the standards needed to contend for the title. "I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included," he stated.
The defeat leaves Arsenal with an eight-point deficit behind Liverpool, with 12 matches remaining in the season. Arteta acknowledged West Ham's victory while reflecting on his team's failure to find momentum during the match.
In other Premier League action, Manchester United managed to salvage a 2-2 draw against Everton after trailing by two goals. Goals from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte helped United avoid defeat, despite a lackluster first-half performance.
Tottenham Hotspur secured a 4-1 victory against Ipswich, alleviating pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou. Wolves also achieved a crucial 1-0 win over a 10-man Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace defeated Fulham 2-0. Southampton's struggles continued with a heavy 4-0 loss to Brighton, leaving them in a precarious position near the bottom of the table.
Looking ahead, Chelsea is set to face Aston Villa in a match that could impact the race for a top-four finish.
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