Arsenal paid the price for failing to take their chances in a 2-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham United on Thursday, captain Martin Odegaard said as he urged his side to learn from their mistakes. Goals from Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos sealed victory at the Emirates, despite Arsenal having more than twice as many chances as West Ham.
Bukayo Saka hit the post and Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli missed good chances, with the defeat leaving second-placed Arsenal on 40 points, two behind league leaders Liverpool. “I think we created more than enough to score goals to win the game and it was the little details and the little last pass or the finish that was missing today,” Odegaard said.
“We have to learn from it and make sure we get sharper and better in front of the goals. The goals we conceded were too easy, so definitely in front of the goals, inside the boxes, that’s where the games are decided. We weren’t good enough today...It was the last home game of the year so we wanted to finish off in style, but today wasn’t the day and we have to look at ourselves and we have to learn and move on.” Arsenal next travel to 13th-placed Fulham tomorrow.
Tottenham, this season’s early pacesetters, remain in fifth spot after losing 4-2 despite threatening an astonishing comeback from 4-0 down against Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton. Jack Hinshelwood finished with brutal power to put the home side ahead following a weaving run from Joao Pedro along the edge of the penalty area.
Brighton doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute through Pedro, who took full advantage after Dejan Kulusevski was penalised for a pull on Welbeck.
Brazil forward Richarlison twice had the ball in the net after the break but both times he was ruled offside. Pervis Estupinan stretched the lead with a thunderbolt from 30 yards in the 63rd minute and Pedro scored a second penalty 12 minutes later.
Alejo Veliz grabbed what appeared to be a consolation goal in the 81st minute but it galvanised the visitors. Ben Davies headed home Pedro Porro’s deep cross as Spurs threatened to cut through every time they poured forward, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg hitting the post during nine frantic minutes of stoppage time. But Brighton withstood the intense pressure to take all three points.
Martin Odegaard. (AFP)
