Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette admitted that the players did not respect their coach's gameplan which lead to West Ham's early lead in their 3-3 draw on Sunday.
The Gunners clawed their way back into the match after conceding three goals in the first 30 mins, before forcing two West Ham own goals via deflections, and levelling the scores with 13 minutes left to go through a goal from Lacazette.
👎 "We didn't respect the game plan from the coach."
👍 "He showed that he deserves to play Arsenal."
🗣 Alexandre Lacazette admits Arsenal must improve after a sloppy start against West Ham but praised Calum Chambers for his performance. pic.twitter.com/wJSjewGoeh— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 21, 2021
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Lacazzette admitted that he and his teammates did not live up to the way that they were asked to play, which lead to West Ham's early lead.
"My feelings are mixed between being proud of my team because we came back in the second half, and disappointed with the first have," Lacazette said.
"The 30-35 minutes where we didn't respect the game plan from the coach and it was a free goal for them. This is not what we wanted but we will have to think about it in two weeks."
The first goal for Arsenal, which was given as an own goal, came off of a shot from Lacazette which deflected off of Tomas Soucek.
He would eventually get his goal to level the scores in the 82nd minute, however Arsenal were unable to win it from there.
😤 "I'm very disappointed because I cannot accept my team playing the way we did."
🗣 Mikel Arteta was frustrated with Arsenal's defending against West Ham but praised his players for their desire after salvaging a point. pic.twitter.com/rzBKYV5bvj— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 21, 2021
Despite rescuing the point, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was not pleased with the way that his team performed on the day.
"I am very disappointed, because I cannot accept my team to play the way that we did for certain periods in the first half and the goals that we conceded," Arteta told Sky Sports.
"What I expect is the level that we showed afterwards, which we played incredibly well. We should have scored six or seven goals.
"We have two faces, and the first face is about giving goals to the opponent and not doing what we have to do, and it is not good enough."
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta, right, and Arsenal's Calum Chambers at the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the London Stadium in London, England, Sunday, March 21, 2021. (Paul Childs, Pool via AP)Arteta was frustrated with the way that his side let the second and third goals in so easily, after West Ham earned their early lead.
"The first goal, it can happen," Arteta said. "It is a really good combination, they play that channel wall, the distractions, they have players in the box, it was a brilliant goal, it is fine. Up until that it is fine.
"When we concede the second goal, it is unacceptable; the third goal is unacceptable. And we still give them one more [opportunity] after the throw in and they hit the post.
"It is too much margins because you have to score six every game. For the rest [of the match], the attitude, the desire and the togetherness that we showed [was good], because at 3-0 is really difficult to do what we have done.
"But I have no doubt, because we talked about it and I can see everyday the energy and the cohesion that the players have."
The Arsenal boss suggested that he will ned to work on his side's overall focus for the coming games.
"We got really close to winning and I think we deserved to win it at the end, but the first parts really worries me," Arteta said.
"It happens; I don't know if it is hangover from Europe, [they are] tired and lose their focus, the game is taking over because you are losing? I don't know what it is.
"It wasn't one or two players, there were more that switched off, so we have to correct that quickly."
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