Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes were dented with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday while West Ham United lost their first league game since Graham Potter’s appointment as they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace. The Gunners led 2-0 but conceded twice in eight minutes, just hours after Liverpool had netted two stoppage-time goals against Brentford to increase their lead at the top of the table. The Eagles scored twice in the second half to beat the Hammers, who finish the game with 10 men after Konstantinos Mavropanos was dismissed after 80 minutes.
“In terms of the performance today, it wasn’t one that we’re so happy about and obviously the result we’re disappointed with because I don’t think we deserved to get anything from the game,” reflected Hammers boss Graham Potter. “We have to accept that as much as it’s not nice to hear, we have to be honest with ourselves and say ‘Okay, we need to do better, we need to find a way to be better’ and that’s where the process is, that’s where the work is and that’s what we need to do.”
Mikel Arteta issued praise for his side despite another disappointing result: “Incredibly proud of the team, I think it was an immense performance, immense. Against this team, what they’ve done, after playing three times in six days, with the same players, not having enough to change it, I cannot be prouder of that. Then, very disappointed with the result, obviously, we can fault ourselves as well because defending the way we did especially with one of the goals as well, it cannot be part of our game if we want to be at the highest level in this country because the rest is, what else can I ask the team to do against a really good side.”
