Art break for mentor Moyes
HAMMERS BOSS: WE DID NOT DESERVE TO LOSE THAT
MIKEL ARTETA took down his mentor David Moyes – with a cruel helping hand from VAR.
Alexandre Lacazette came off the bench for Arteta’s Arsenal to prove a point with a dramatic late winner to keep the Gunners’ unlikely Champions League hopes alive.
The French forward initially saw his 78th-minute finish disallowed for offside – only for Mesut Ozil, after an agonising wait, to be ruled on prior to his tee-up header.
West Ham boss Moyes had Arteta in his Everton team for almost seven years and made him captain. But in their first clash as managers the Scot was distraught after the relegationhaunted Hammers wasted glaring opportunities to win.
Arteta said: “I am very pleased with VAR today. My staff said it was a goal, but you get less positive when it goes on for three or four minutes.
“It was awkward against David. I started this adventure in England with him as a manager, he showed the faith to bring me here and I am still grateful.
“I respect and admire him and had seven magnificent years playing for him. He showed today with his game plan the type of manager he is.
“I don’t believe too much in fortune but we had the moments of luck we needed, also down to some good performances at the back.
“The players found a way to win even though it wasn’t their best day.
“The ship may be turning around, but it has to turn more yet. I have two strikers who are both scoring and making life difficult for me. “I decided to start with Eddie Nketiah today, but I sensed Alexandre was very alert on the touchline.” Moyes has now gone a record 16 games for a manager failing to record a Premier League win away at a single club. He said: “VAR is the one rule that is supposed to be factual. Then again next season it might not be given as a goal if we change the rules again. “I haven’t got much to say on it. Somebody makes a decision and it’s supposed to be correct. I think defenders do stop sometimes when they see a flag. “We didn’t deserve to lose today, the team played really well and you couldn’t fault the players for effort, commitment, attitude. Maybe just quality at times.
“In recent weeks we have made defensive mistakes. Today we didn’t take the chances we created.
“We should have been in front at half-time, and made as many chances at Arsenal as I have had for a long time.
“I can’t say I enjoyed going up against Mikel – not when I lose. He will go on to be a very successful manager.”
Jarrod Bowen (left) hit Bernd Leno’s left-hand post within two minutes. However, the visitors wasted a glorious chance to open the scoring nine minutes later.
Pablo Fornals sent Michail Antonio away but with £45million striker Sebastien Haller waiting in the middle unmarked, Antonio got the pass all wrong.
A poor first touch from Haller, in the clear, allowed Leno to save.
After 25 minutes it was Arsenal’s turn to hit the woodwork with a Sokratis header.
But in the 40th minute Antonio was again the guilty man, poking Issa Diop’s on-target header wide.
Antonio then wasted another great chance – seeing a pointblank header from Haller’s flick saved by Leno.
But for all West Ham’s chances Arsenal snatched a late winner – coming after that VAR reversal.
Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s deflected shot looped up and Ozil nodded the ball back for Lacazette to finish.
The flag went up for offside – but though sub Reiss Nelson was in an offside position midfielder Ozil was millimetres the right side of Angelo Ogbonna.