Mikel Arteta did not hold back in his criticism of Arsenal following their disappointing 1-0 home defeat to West Ham, a result that saw the Gunners’ 15-game unbeaten streak come to an abrupt end. The Arsenal boss described himself as “very, very angry” and took full responsibility for his team’s lackluster performance, which he labeled as “nowhere near the levels” required to compete for the Premier League title.

Jarrod Bowen’s first-half strike proved decisive, handing West Ham their second consecutive victory at the Emirates and leaving Arsenal eight points adrift of league leaders Liverpool. The Gunners struggled to create meaningful chances, managing just two shots on target from 20 attempts, and were further hampered by a 73rd-minute red card shown to youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Arteta, visibly frustrated, refused to make excuses for his side’s toothless display, even with a makeshift attack that saw central midfielder Mikel Merino deployed as a forward, flanked by Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Arteta said: *“Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well. We didn’t hit the levels today, and I am very much responsible for that, so I am very, very angry.”*

He dismissed the idea that the absence of key attackers was to blame, instead pointing to a collective failure to meet the required standards. *“I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included. That was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.”*

Arteta emphasized the importance of consistency in performance, something his side sorely lacked against West Ham. *“We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today, and today, nowhere near.”*

The defeat leaves Arsenal’s title hopes hanging by a thread, with Liverpool now holding a significant advantage at the top of the table. Arteta acknowledged the missed opportunity to close the gap, especially after Liverpool’s recent draws against Everton and Aston Villa.

*“I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played,”* he said. *“But as well, I think a lot from our side that we never got right, and they didn’t allow us to get enough momentum, enough sequence of play with positive action that could deliver into situations of threat for them.”*

Arteta now faces the challenge of rallying his squad ahead of a crucial midweek trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest. He will also be without Lewis-Skelly, who was sent off for a last-man challenge on Mohamed Kudus. The red card, initially a yellow, was upgraded after a VAR review, further compounding Arsenal’s woes on a night to forget.

As the Gunners look to bounce back, Arteta’s stern words serve as a wake-up call to his players. With 12 games remaining, Arsenal must rediscover their form quickly if they are to keep their fading title hopes alive.