Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says Arsenal only have themselves to blame after a 2-2 draw at West Ham put a huge dent in their Premier League title chances.
Arsenal raced into a two-goal lead at the London Stadium on Sunday, with fine strikes from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard in the opening 10 minutes.
It seemed that they would cruise to victory after that, but just after 30 minutes a sloppy mistake from Thomas Partey lead to Gabriel Magalhaes giving away a penalty to put the Irons back in the game.
From there, West Ham were the better team with Jarrod Bowen equalising in the second-half just minutes after Bukayo Saka had missed from the spot.
The result means that Arsenal’s lead over Manchester City at the top of the table is just four points, having played a game more than their title rivals.
With West Ham, 15th in the table and battling against relegation, this match was seen as one the Gunners’ easiest fixtures left in their run-in and not taking all three points will surely come back to haunt them.
It’s also the second game in a row that Arsenal have blown a two-goal lead, having capitulated against Liverpool last week, and Hasselbaink did not hold back in his scathing assement of Mikel Arteta’s men.
‘This is self-inflicted from Arsenal. I expected so much more against West Ham, they’re a poor side,’ the Chelsea icon told Sky Sports.
‘They should have won easily, they were winning easily until it was 2-0. It became too easy. And after 2-0, the intensity, the work rate, everything stopped from Arsenal and that’s why West Ham came back in the game.
‘The first goal West ham scored was a big mistake from Partey and they just gave it away today!’
Roy Keane agreed with his fellow pundit, adding: ‘Last week, we forgave them because they were at Liverpool and it’s a big ask.
‘Today was self-inflicted, particularly with the first penalty they gave away. It’s a big point for West Ham and they deserved it in the second half.’
If Arsenal want to win their first league title since 2004 they must get back on track in their next game at home against bottom of the table Southampton on Friday.
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