Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta saw his side throw away a two-goal lead at West Ham (Image: GETTY)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has slammed his players for a second week in a row after they threw away a two-goal lead at West Ham. The Spaniard labelled the Gunners' defending to allow West Ham back into the game as "terrible".
Like at Anfield last Sunday, Arsenal went two goals ahead early in the first half. Gabriel Jesus tapped in from close range before Martin Odegaard volleyed in at the back post to double his team's advantage.
But the visitors clearly haven't learned from their mistakes from last week. Thomas Partey shockingly gave the ball away to Declan Rice on the edge of his own box and Gabriel was almost forced to give away a penalty on Lucas Paqueta.
Said Benrahma halved the deficit from 12 yards and the atmosphere at the London Stadium improved immediately. Arsenal had their own chance from the spot in the second half after a Michail Antonio handball but Bukayo Saka sent his effort way wide of Lukasz Fabianski's goal.
It proved to be a costly miss as West Ham almost immediately went up the other end to draw level through Jarrod Bowen. Arsenal huffed and puffed but if any team was going to score a winner, it was going to be the Hammers.
Arteta was critical of his players on Merseyside and has given a similar reaction to the latest blow to his team's title charge. He says the play which led to West Ham's penalty was particularly poor.
Arteta told Sky Sports: "Very disappointing. The way we started was superb again, to go 2-0 up and you have the game in total control.
"Then we have to blame ourselves because we lost that purpose to really attack them. Instead we kept the ball for the sake of playing and we gave them hope. Obviously we conceded a terrible penalty, the way that we gave the ball away, and after that credit to them.
"We couldn't control the situations and you start to get got on that roller coaster where everything is going, corners and corners and throw-ins, and we didn't manage to get away from that. What we did in the second half, it wasn't enough."
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Saka has become Arsenal's penalty taker in the last two seasons and hadn't missed up until Sunday. His manager had sympathy, commenting: "A player who takes penalties misses penalties, I don't know anyone who hasn't."
Arsenal's lead at the top has been cut to just four points. Manchester City have a game in hand and are now favourites to win their fifth title in six seasons.
Asked if the pressure has increased on his side, Arteta said: "It's the same, I don't know how many notches there were a few months ago. We can't control it."
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