Mikel Arteta reveals who is to blame for Arsenal's devastating defeat to West Ham that leaves them eight points adrift in Premier League title race

Mikel Arteta has revealed who should take the blame for Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday that leaves them eight points behind Liverpool.

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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners were beaten by Jarrod Bowen's first-half effort and Arteta stated afterwards that he would shoulder responsibility for the defeat, which sees his side sit eight points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of the Reds' trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Arteta could point at injuries as a key factor behind the defeat, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all out of action. However the Gunners have not won more than three league games in a row all season, never picking up the momentum required to challenge at the top, and their manager is willing to take the blame for yet another stumble on Saturday.
WHAT ARTETA SAID
Arteta told a press conference: "We have to be [angry]. I hope we are very much because we didn’t hit the levels today and I’m very much responsible, and I am very angry.
"I refuse [to blame injuries] completely because I am talking about the standards of the players and the team that we played today, me included 100%, were nowhere near the levels that we have to hit to have the opportunity to win a Premier League game today. We were very consistent, yes, but football is about what you do today and today, it was nowhere near."

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WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
Arsenal will be hoping Manchester City can do them a favour at the Etihad on Sunday before attention turns to a trip to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening. Arteta's side have also been drawn to play PSV in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg to be played on Tuesday 4 March.

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