Mikel Arteta gives brutally honest reaction after 10-man Arsenal dealt title blow

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta didn't dwell on Arsenal's man disadvantage after Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off in the Gunners' defeat at home to West Ham on Saturday, admitting his team's overall level wasn't good enough

The Gunners missed a golden chance to close the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool, losing 1-0 against a West Ham team who were chasing their first away win of 2025. Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the game, with Arsenal substitute Lewis-Skelly dismissed for a foul on Mohammed Kudus.

Lewis-Skelly was initially only shown a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson after hauling down Kudus on the halfway line with goalkeeper David Raya far out of his area. However, after going to the VAR screen, the official decided to send off the teenager.

It was the second time Lewis-Skelly has been shown a red card this year, though his first - against Wolves in January - was later overturned. That was just one part of a frustrating afternoon for the North London side, though, as they failed to break down their resilient opponents.

"I don't know, I haven't seen it back. The decision has been made, it's done. Let's move on," Arteta said when asked about the red card. "It is painful but this is sport. We need to feel the pain today, I think we deserve that," he conceded, adding: "I never felt that we were at the level or the standard".

Arteta admitted he was left frustrated by his team's wider performance. "Yeah very disappointed. Obviously very angry as well. You have to congratulate West Ham for the victory," he said. "For as well a lot on our side. It didn't allow us to get enough momentum."

Kudus' assessment of the red card incident was a straightforward one: "I was pressing to get the ball. From the pitch, I took the ball off him and then they gave the red card," the former Ajax star said. "I tried to get the shot off. If I wasn't stopped, I was heading direct to the goal against the keeper."

Image: PA) PA)

It was just a second win for West Ham under Graham Potter, who took over as manager in January. It was also the second season in a row in which the Hammers have won away at Arsenal in the league, despite losing their last two home meetings while conceding 11 goals.

"Everyone worked so hard," captain and match-winner Bowen said. "We knew everyone would have to dig in, defend really well and every person to a man did that today and that's why we've got the result. Everyone wrote us off but we never wrote ourselves off because we know we can win any football game."

West Ham remain 16th despite the win, but are now level on points with Manchester United after Ruben Amorim's side drew at Everton. Arsenal remain second, eight points behind league leaders Liverpool ahead of the Reds' Sunday meeting with Manchester City.

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