I'm very, very angry - says Mikel Arteta after Arsenal suffer big blow in the title race

Arsenal’s title hopes were dealt a significant blow at Emirates Stadium as they lost to the relegation-battling Hammers on Saturday. Both sides went into the game with different motives, but it was Graham Potter’s men who edged the Gunners to seal the victory.

Starting the game on a high note, Arsenal tried to inflict damage despite not boasting prolific attackers in their lineup. They had early chances but failed to capitalize on them. On the other hand, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jarrod Bowen had displayed a threat as a combination on the counterattack, but Arsenal completely ignored it. The Gunners went on to pay the price later as the same combo registered a G/A combination, altering the result of the game.

With the result, not only are fans disappointed and angry, but the manager, Mikel Arteta, is too. While doing the post-mortem of the game in the press conference, he mentioned that he is annoyed with the performance and the result. He also mentioned that the team is not yet ready to capitalize on the opportunity to win the Premier League title, for which he himself is responsible.

I'm really, really annoyed with the things that are in our hands – which is the performance and the result

[We were] nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier league. I'm very much responsible for that, so I'm very, very angry

Mikel Arteta ask for more will and desire to become the Premier League champions

Heartbroken from the defeat to West Ham United, Mikel Arteta spoke about the standards and how the team played, including his tactics. The former Gunner player urged that the team should look into the mirror and display more will and desire to become champions. He said:

I'm talking about the standards of the players and the team we played today, me included. We have to look in the mirror [for] what we can do better, and the will, the desire, the way we run and the way we want [to be champions].

You have to deliver and it has to be with quality to break down a really good team. We have to play much better, and with more quality.

Arsenal will play Nottingham Forest in their upcoming Premier League fixture in the 27th gameweek. They will hope to bounce back strongly from the defeat and still have a chance as they approach the final third of the campaign.