Arteta says Arsenal must use anger of defeat to rekindle title hopes

LONDON - Arsenal must suffer for 48 hours and use the anger of their 1-0 home defeat by West Ham United to rekindle their Premier League title challenge, manager Mikel Arteta said on Feb 22.

It was meant to be a weekend when Arsenal would put pressure on leaders Liverpool by beating West Ham and closing the gap to five points ahead of Liverpools game at champions Manchester City on Feb 23.

Instead, a toothless Arsenal lost at home in the league for the first time in 10 months and could find themselves 11 points adrift come Sunday night.

Very disappointed, obviously very angry as well. I think you have to congratulate West Ham for the victory and the game that they played, Arteta told reporters.

But as well I think a lot from our side that we never got right. Even though we had 20 shots, I never felt that we were at the standard and the level that we needed.

We have to be (angry),I hope we are very much because we didnt hit the levels today and I am very much responsible for that so I am very, very angry.

With forwards Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka all ruled out with injuries, Arsenals makeshift attack struggled to make any impact against West Ham.

Arteta refused to use the injuries as an excuse though.

No, I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we had today, me included. And that was nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League.

Arteta can now only hope that Manchester City do them a favour on Feb 23 and that his side can respond away against third-placed