Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was left frustrated after his side let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with West Ham, dealing a blow to their hopes of winning the Premier League. The Gunners had taken the lead through goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe, but the Hammers fought back to level the scoreline.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said his team were “too nice” in their approach and allowed West Ham to get back into the game. He said: “We were too nice in the second half. We allowed them to come back into the game and we didn’t have enough control or intensity to finish the game off.”
The draw leaves Arsenal in ninth place in the Premier League table, eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League spot. Arteta acknowledged that his team must now focus on securing a top-four finish if they are to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition next season.
He said: “We have to fight for every point now and we have to make sure we get into the top four. We have to be more consistent and we have to be more ruthless in our approach if we are to achieve that.”
The result also means that Arsenal have now gone five games without a win in all competitions, and Arteta admitted that his team must improve if they are to turn their fortunes around. He said: “We have to be better and we have to be more aggressive in our approach. We have to be more clinical in front of goal and we have to be more solid defensively.”
Arsenal will now look to get back to winning ways when they face Newcastle United on April 21st. Mikel Arteta’s side will need to show more intensity and aggression if they are to get the three points and keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.