Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on Sunday criticized his side’s inconsistency despite struggling three goals to draw 3-3 at West Ham in the Premier League. The Gunners’ slow start saw Arteta’s men thrice in the opening 32 minutes as Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Susek hit for the Hammer. But goals from Saussek and Craig Dawson themselves saved Arsenal’s deficit with a point saved eight minutes ahead of time from Alexander Lacazette’s header. An exciting bout saw part of the spoils lowering expectations from both ends of the top four. West Ham sit fifth, but Chelsea, who finished fourth, have two points.
Arsenal’s realistic expectations of Champions League football next season now rests on success in the Europa League as they are ranked ninth down nine points.
“I am very disappointed because I cannot accept my team to play the way we did for some time in the first half.”
“What we expect is for us to play at the level shown in the second half. We could have scored six or seven goals.
“We’re in reverse all the time because we have two faces. The first face is about giving goals to the opponent and doing what we have to do and that’s not good enough.”
The Hammers boss David Moyes has been accused of not being brave enough to take the game to the traditional top six opponents despite a season that surpassed all expectations.
– Lingard attacked again –
But the home team were rewarded for a great start as Lingard dashed to the top corner in 15 minutes to recall the England team this week.
The Manchester United midfielder has been rejuvenated since his January move to London Stadium and two minutes later, Lingard’s quick thinking scored the second as his free-kick caught Arsenal napping and Bowen edged Bernard Leno. Defeated at his nearest position.
Gunner was present defensively everywhere in the opening half-hour and Michel Antonio’s header was caught again when he was deflected by Soussek.
West Ham were leading by three points, which brought them to points with Chelsea at that level.
However, Arsenal awoke from his sleep before the break.
Soucek was credited with a neglected goal on both ends as Lacazette’s furious strike swept away the check and overtook former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiियानski.
“Unfortunately we gave him a goal just before half-time, which gave Arsenal a leg up,” Moyes said.
Bukayo Saka was denied by Fabianski and Lasayat made an ace effort that Iss Diop cleared the line for half-time, as Arsenal pressed on.
But it was another mistake by West Ham that got the visitors back in the game immediately, as Dawson put a cross driven by Callum Chambers into his own net.
The home side were sent back inside their own box for the second period, but still had two clear opportunities to seal the win at the break.
Karen Tierney scored two superb blocks to deny Bowen and Antonio before Antonio hit the post from point-blank range, as he said he could reach Benbrama’s cross.
Promoted
A week before the North London derby was dropped for ill discipline, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was abandoned 10 minutes ahead of time by Artita as he chased a draw.
But Aubameyang was still making his way in the back when Lacazette led another brilliant cross to the right of Arsenal, this time by Nicolas Pepe.
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