Mikel Arteta 'very angry' as Hammers put nail in Arsenal title hopes

A furious Mikel Arteta said Arsenal's bid to win the Premier League title is now out of their hands after accusing his players of failing to hit the levels required in their crushing 1-0 defeat against West Ham at the Emirates.

Jarrod Bowen scored the only goal of the game before Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off with 18 minutes remaining to leave the Gunners eight points behind Liverpool with 12 matches remaining.

Arne Slot's side could end the weekend 11 points clear if they beat Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday.

And speaking about Arsenal's bid to end their 21-year wait for the title, Arteta conceded: "It's not in our hands.

"I am really, really annoyed with the things that are in our hands - which is the performance and the result - and we didn't do that as well as we possibly could.

"I am very disappointed, and obviously very angry as well. 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), and I hope we are because we didn't hit the levels today, and I am very much responsible of that so I am very, very angry."

Arsenal hit the target just twice as their failure to sign a striker during last month's transfer window was brutally exposed.

Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are both out for the season, while the club's first-choice wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also currently sidelined with hamstring injuries. Makeshift forward Mikel Merino, who usually operates in midfield, led the line.

However, Arteta dismissed the notion that the club's lack of a recognised striker was the chief reason behind their defeat to the Hammers.

He continued: "I refuse that completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we