Mikel Arteta has warned that Arsenal must improve in both boxes to stand any chance of winning the Premier League.
There was a lack of focus and ruthlessness in key areas when Arteta’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to West Ham on Thursday. Arsenal missed the chance to return to the top of the table despite having 30 shots and 77 touches in West Ham’s box, the most a top-flight side has managed without scoring.
Arteta would later talk up his side’s display, arguing that they dominated the game and created enough to win. But two defensive lapses proved costly and Arsenal’s manager was realistic when he was asked if playing like that would be enough to bring the title to north London for the first time since 2004. “If we don’t improve in the boxes, no,” Arteta said. “Because at the end that is what it is.”
The 77 touches at least provided some solace. “You say it is a record, no?” Arteta said. “I don’t think there are many teams in the league who have done that for many years. Something very positive, I think.”
Arteta batted away suggestions that Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are battling fatigue.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Obviously there are a lot of games but they looked really good, looked fresh. When you win, you don’t look at that. They are young. If they were 35 maybe it would be a different question. They are young, they have a lot of energy. They can keep going, that is for sure.
“Without a spark you don’t generate what the team generated today. It is impossible. But it is the final thing, the final touch, the final action that puts the ball in the net or not. That is what we need.”
Arsenal are two points below Liverpool, one above Aston Villa and three above Manchester City. They could be fourth by the time they visit Fulham on Sunday. “We can be second as well,” Arteta said. “And if we win we can be first. We have to do what we can control. It’s not time to look at other teams. The level of the league is incredible.”
