EPL: Arsenal captain Odegaard calls for improvement after loss

Arsenal faced another set-back in its title chase after a 2-0 loss against West Ham, as captain Martin Odegaard said his side “weren’t good enough “ although a controversial decision by VAR took centre stage in the Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium in London, England.

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos sealed victory for West Ham 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.

The controversy came when West Ham midfielder Soucek scored from Jarrod Bowen’s cross from the left byline in the 13th minute to give the Hammers the lead.

In the build-up to the goal, the ball appeared to have crossed the line, but officials said it was unclear as to whether the ball had gone out of play.

A three-and-a-half-minute VAR check saw the technology look at the best angles possible before awarding the goal, with Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta revealing the officials told him that the image was “not conclusive” – so the on-field decision stood.

This is the second time Arsenal have been involved in a situation similar to this, with Newcastle’s winner against the Gunners in November controversially awarded after Joe Willock took the ball near the byline.

Arsenal next travel to 13th-placed Fulham on Sunday, while West Ham will face Brighton & Hove Albion.