Mikel Arteta knows there is work to do at Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal must improve in both penalty areas if they are going to win the Premier League title, after his side were beaten by West ham on Thursday.
The Gunners succumbed to a surprise 0-2 home defeat against the Hammers, with the goals coming from Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Arsenal dominated possession and had 30 shots on goal compared to West Ham’s six, but David Moyes’ side came away with the three points to harm Arteta’s chances of a first Premier League title with the Gunners.
The Spaniard admits that his team must improve their efficiency in front of goal and be more solid in defence to have a chance of becoming champions, despite being just two points behind league-leaders Liverpool.
Asked if his side can win the Premier League this season, he said: ‘If we don’t improve in the boxes, no. Because at the end that is what it is.
‘It’s not panic, it is about trying to do more, do better and win games. If the team plays like this, we are going to win a lot of games.
‘We have to do what we can control. It’s not time to look at other teams. You see how difficult it is for other teams yesterday and today and it is going to continue to be like that, because the level of the league is incredible.’
West Ham damaged Arsenal’s title chances on Thursday at the Emirates (Picture: Getty Images)
A packed December schedule has seen Arsenal play seven games and still have one to come on New Year’s Eve and it was put to Arteta that big players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are in need of a rest after a dip in form.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Obviously there are a lot of games but they looked really good, looked fresh. When you win, you don’t look at that. They are young. If they were 35 maybe it would be a different question. They are young, they have a lot of energy. They can keep going, that is for sure.
‘Without a spark you don’t generate what the team generated today. It is impossible. But it is the final thing, the final touch, the final action that puts the ball in the net or not. That is what we need.’
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