The Gossip

Arsenal’s hopes of reclaiming the top spot in the Premier League were dashed as they suffered an unexpected 2-0 defeat at home against West Ham on Thursday.

In the first half, Tomáš Souček scored a goal against the run of play, giving the visitors the lead. Arsenal’s misery was further compounded in the second half when former defender Konstantinos Mavropanos rose highest from a corner to secure West Ham’s victory.

The Gunners could have faced an even more humiliating defeat, but David Raya saved Said Benrahma’s penalty in the dying moments of stoppage time.

However, as has been the trend this season, VAR once again became a major talking point.

Upon reviewing the build-up to Souček’s goal, it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to rule out the goal, despite Arsenal’s claims that the ball had gone out of play when Jarrod Bowen cut it back for his teammate.

In contrast to a previous incident earlier this season that resulted in a Newcastle goal, Arsenal anager Mikel Arteta responded in a more measured manner to the decision.

“I haven’t seen it, the only information they are providing is that the images they have are inconclusive,” he informed reporters, as reported by Arsenal.

It is unfortunate that despite the advanced technology available to us, it is still unclear whether a decision was correct or not. The incident is now in the past and there is nothing we can do about it.

Of greater concern to Arteta is the wastefulness of his team against West Ham. Arsenal had control of the game for the majority of the match, with 74% possession and 30 shots compared to West Ham’s six. However, West Ham managed to score two goals from just three shots on target.

According to Opta, Arsenal had a total of 77 touches in West Ham’s penalty area, which is the highest number for a team in a single Premier League match without scoring. Arteta expressed his disappointment at the result, acknowledging that West Ham were better than Arsenal in both boxes.

In order to win in football, one must perform better in both attacking and defensive areas. Despite Arsenal’s dominance in terms of possession and chances created, they were unable to convert their opportunities into goals. Arteta emphasized the team’s effort and attitude, but acknowledged that they need to be more clinical in front of goal.

While Arsenal’s lack of goals highlights the need for a ruthless striker, Arteta stated that he is satisfied with the current squad of players at his disposal.

Arteta expressed his admiration for the current players in the team, emphasizing that their improvement and confidence are key. Meanwhile, Liverpool remains at the top of the Premier League, with Aston Villa and Manchester City in pursuit. West Ham, under the management of David Moyes, has made significant progress, currently sitting in sixth place and competing in the Europa League. Additionally, Brighton & Hove Albion showcased their prowess by defeating Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 in an exhilarating match.