Mikel Arteta could not hide his disappointment after Arsenal dropped points in the Premier League title race with a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead in successive Premier League fixtures for the first time, as West Ham fought back to rescue a result at the London Stadium.
Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard scored inside the opening ten minutes as Arsenal began in dream fashion, but Said Benrahma’s penalty and Jarrod Bowen’s goal – either side of a missed Bukayo Saka penalty for the Gunners – saw the spoils shared.
Arteta was critical of his side, who he said ‘lost purpose’ after a strong start against the Hammers.
“Very disappointing,” Arteta told Sky Sports. ”The way we started was superb again, we were in total control, then we lost purpose.
“We gave them hope, conceded a terrible penalty, then credit to them. We got on the roller coaster where everything is going, corners and throw ins, and we never got away from that.
“The purpose we needed for third and fourth goal, I didn’t see it.”
Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League has been reduced to four points this weekend, while second-placed Manchester City have a game-in-hand on the league leaders.
Arteta admits his side cannot control the outside noise but insists the pressure has not increased on the Gunners despite their dropped points.
“It’s the same, I don’t know how many notches there were a few months ago. We can’t control it.”
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