LONDON — With eight minutes of regular time left on Saturday, West Ham United changed match winner Jarrod Bowen with Evan Ferguson, a striker they signed on mortgage earlier this month.
For those who did not know higher, it virtually felt like a transfer to mock Arsenal. In spite of everything, how Gunners boss Mikel Arteta should have wished he might do the identical, bereft of attacking choices after opting in opposition to a midseason signing.
That call appeared questionable on the time, however after shedding 1-0 to the Hammers at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, it has already triggered the most important query of all: is Arsenal’s title race now over?
“It isn’t in our arms,” Arteta admitted after the match. “For me, I am actually, actually aggravated in regards to the issues which can be in our arms and we did not do in addition to we probably might and that is the efficiency and the outcome in the present day.”
The hope that Mikel Merino would observe a trajectory similar to that of Kai Havertz — midfielder turned striker — appeared fanciful from the outset, even when he crammed the vacant centre-forward place impressively with a late double at Leicester Metropolis final weekend. Havertz has a a lot higher pedigree as a ahead, and in any case, his transition to main Arsenal’s assault got here organically over a time period when the group was taking part in effectively, not as a stop-gap of their hour of want.
Arteta claimed on Friday that Arsenal had been “re-energised” by the way in which they rallied collectively following affirmation Havertz would miss the remainder of the season with a hamstring damage. There was little or no signal of that right here and, in equity to the Spaniard, he did little to masks his frustration at a efficiency that by no means matched the duty at hand.
“Now we have to be [angry],” Arteta mentioned. “I hope we’re very a lot as a result of we did not hit the degrees in the present day and I’m very a lot liable for that so I’m very, very indignant.”
The Gunners had some zip within the play for the opening quarter-hour or so, making an attempt to angle balls to Merino, which, on two events, they managed successfully. After West Ham grew to become alive to that risk, although, Arsenal struggled to say any sustained stress past management of the ball in secure areas.
Regardless of the sense of alternative earlier than them — Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa in midweek and Arne Slot’s aspect not taking part in at Manchester Metropolis till Sunday created an opportunity to chop the hole on the high to 5 factors — the Gunners have been curiously flat.
Maybe perception was in brief provide. Creativity definitely was.
Martin Ødegaard lacked his common guile, Leandro Trossard made too many unsuitable selections and Ethan Nwaneri was subdued. Declan Rice, berated all through by supporters of his former membership, was hooked after simply 56 minutes.
Mohammed Kudus prompted Arsenal issues all afternoon, none extra so than when substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly hauled him down simply contained in the Gunners half. Referee Craig Pawson initially gave Lewis-Skelly a yellow card however that was appropriately upgraded to a crimson on VAR assessment because of David Raya‘s positioning, 40 yards out of his aim.
One second-half second summed up the Arsenal malaise. On 79 minutes, the house aspect gained a free kick and an opportunity to place the ball within the field. Ødegaard as an alternative went quick and sideways to William Saliba, who then went again to Raya.
The transfer was met with anger and a smattering of boos within the stands, which steadily emptied as West Ham accomplished a well-disciplined defensive show with a level of consolation.
Arsenal mustered simply two photographs on the right track all afternoon, one a first-half Riccardo Calafiori effort that Alphonse Areola held comfortably and the second a Trossard shot reducing in from the precise. Together with added time, Areola didn’t have to make a save within the ultimate half hour.
Arteta rejected the concept their lack of a recognised striker might clarify the whole lot he witnessed, believing the issue to be extra basic.
“No, no and I refuse that utterly as a result of I’m speaking in regards to the requirements of the gamers and the group that we performed in the present day, me included,” he mentioned. “And that was nowhere close to the degrees that we’ve got to hit to have the chance to win a Premier League. Right now, no. We have been very constant, sure, however soccer is about what you do in the present day and in the present day, nowhere close to.”
There are nonetheless some grounds for hope. This was solely Arsenal’s first league residence defeat in 10 months and Liverpool have a tough week forward with Metropolis away earlier than a visit to Newcastle United, the place Arsenal have already misplaced twice this season.
More and more, although, the Gunners do not look able to capitalise on any errors with Havertz and Gabriel Jesus dominated out for the season, whereas Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are each a number of weeks away from a return.
Arsenal made a judgement name to not pursue a January transfer for Ollie Watkins extra aggressively as their £40 million bid was rejected, falling wanting Aston Villa’s £60m demand to sanction the England striker’s switch. That call to not spend the additional £20m — or near it with a little bit of negotiation — was based mostly on the opportunity of disrupting future plans and an goal valuation of a 29-year-old, albeit one confirmed within the league.
The proof is mounting that not signing Watkins, or an alternate, could find yourself costing them much more than that.