Mikel Arteta said that Arsenal deserved to feel pain on Saturday after their Premier League title hopes had received a huge blow with a 1-0 defeat at home at West Ham.
The goal of Jarrod Bowen in the first half turned out to be the difference between the two parties in the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal struggled to collect clear opportunities.
The home team also had to cope with going to 10 men in the second half, because Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent for a lunging, last man challenge on Mohammed Kudus.
Arsenal did not succeed in closing the gap for leaders Liverpool to five points before the men of Arne Slot stand opposite Manchester City on Sunday, and the men of Arteta could find themselves 11 points of the pace by the end of the action of the action weekend.
He said Sky Sports: “We started the game and we never got a grip. We have not generated a threat or momentum.
“They have the quality to deliver those moments and then it will be a difficult game.
“We got the red card and that was a big mountain to climb and we tried to respond, but we didn't have enough moments of quality to unlock things on the back.
“Credit to West Ham, they were really aggressive in their duels.”
Not the result that your support deserved.
A chance to go again on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/OB69YUWEKO
– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) 22 February 2025
Arteta refused to be drawn on sending Lewis-Skelly, who is the youngest player who ever received several red cards in the Premier League after his resignation against Wolves last month.
Asked for his thoughts about the decision, Arteta said: “I don't know, I haven't seen it anymore. The decision was made, it is done. Let's go on.
“It's painful, but this is sport. We have to feel the pain today, I think we deserve that. '
In the meantime, West Ham -boss Graham Potter was delighted with the performance on his side when he won his second victory since he came to the club last month.
“It's a huge performance for us,” Potter said the BBC Sport of the Day competition.
“I am very happy to play the players and the fans. Tactically it was a very disciplined version. Really good. “
Potter was delighted about the way West Ham threatened the counterattack, with Bowen applying a close-range finish after a row run by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Potter hopes that the victory can offer a significant trust for the rest of the season, and adds: “Jarrod and Aaron and Mo [Kudus] Give us an incompatible threat.
“We defended with discipline and resilience, but we also bear an attacking threat. The victory brings trust and conviction.
“This result is really big for us and hopefully it enables us to move forward in a positive way.”
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