Arsenal’s Manager Mikel Arteta attributes his team’s failure to secure a win against Liverpool and West Ham United this season as the reason for them not winning the league title. After Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest during their Premier League away game last Saturday, Manchester City was declared the champions of England, with three games still left to be played.
During the post-match press conference, Arteta spoke about the missed opportunities and how it may have been a deciding factor in losing the title. He said, “It started with what happened at Anfield [against Liverpool] in the 90th minute. Then at West Ham, if you put it away to make 3-1, everything changes.”
Arsenal conceded a total of 16 goals in those two games, which contributed significantly to their downfall. Arteta realizes that in such a competitive league, the smallest of margins make a difference, and Arsenal’s inability to capitalize on these opportunities further hurt them. He added, “That team doesn’t give you any margins. We have extended those margins too much, and that’s why we lost the league.”
It is crucial to mention that Arsenal drew 2-2 against both Liverpool and West Ham United respectively in April, which ultimately prevented them from winning the league. These lost opportunities prove to be particularly significant for a club that had been striving to return to winning ways after experiencing a few recent turbulent seasons.
In conclusion, Arsenal missed a chance to be crowned Premier League champions because of their inability to convert their chances against Liverpool and West Ham United. This is a classic example of how the little things that go wrong can spoil a team’s entire season.