Arsenal’s title hopes took a major blow after a 1-0 defeat to West Ham, with Mikel Arteta slamming his team’s performance. Jarrod Bowen’s goal secured the win, while Paul Merson declared the title race over. Arsenal, now eight points behind Liverpool, must bounce back against Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal suffered a significant setback in their Premier League title chase after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to West Ham. Jarrod Bowen’s first-half header sealed the win for the Hammers, leaving the Gunners eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration, labeling his team’s performance as unacceptable. “We never reached the required standard,” he admitted, adding that his players must “feel the pain” of the loss and use it as motivation. Despite missing key attackers like Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz, Arteta refused to blame injuries for the result, insisting that his squad must do better.
Adding to Arsenal’s woes, substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off late in the game. The loss means they have failed to capitalize on opportunities to close the gap in the title race. Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson was blunt in his assessment, stating that the Gunners' hopes of catching Liverpool are "one million percent over."
Arteta acknowledged that the title race is no longer in Arsenal’s hands but remains focused on improving his team’s performances. He called on his players to channel their frustration into a strong response when they face Nottingham Forest next.
With Liverpool maintaining their lead and Arsenal struggling for consistency, the pressure is mounting. Arteta’s men must bounce back quickly if they want to remain in contention, but this defeat has undoubtedly dented their title ambitions.
4o
