'They got complacent, they got COCKY': Jamie Carragher slams Arsenal
‘They got complacent, they got COCKY’: Jamie Carragher slams Arsenal for letting West Ham claw back a two-goal deficit and dropping points for a second week in a row… but insists that the Gunners haven’t bottled the Premier League title
- Jamie Carragher has questioned Arsenal’s mentality in draw with West Ham
- The Gunners initially led 2-0 but were pegged back to draw the match
- Carragher believes that Arsenal got ‘cocky’ after their quick start in the game
Jamie Carragher blamed Arsenal for their own downfall in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham as he slammed the Premier League leaders for being ‘cocky’.
Mikel Arteta’s side was in full control at the London Stadium after goals from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard inside the opening 10 minutes.
But, then collapsed for the second consecutive game as Said Benrahma converted his penalty before Jarrod Bowen scored an equaliser midway through the second-half. Bukayo Saka also missed a penalty when Arsenal were ahead.
Carragher insisted that the Gunners got ‘complacent’ after their early dominance in the derby, stating on Sky Sports: ‘What I would say is when in the run-in for a title, always question mark over team who haven’t done it before.
‘Have they got the nerve, when they lose a game or drop points have they bottled it?
Arsenal took an early lead after scoring twice inside the opening 10 minutes against West Ham
Bukayo Saka (striking ball) missed a vital penalty when Arsenal led 2-1 in the match
West Ham clawed themselves back into the game as Jarrod Bowen (middle left) scored the equaliser
‘This idea they have bottled it or haven’t held their nerve I think it is completely the opposite because when you talk about someone getting nervous in a run-in you can’t play as well as they did in first 30 mins at Anfield or West Ham if they are going in tense, worried about fixtures, the football was out of this world.
‘The problem over the last two weeks is they got complacent, they got cocky, that game was so easy,’ he added.
It looked like there was no hope for West Ham before Gabriel’s mistake inside the box that saw him hack down Lucas Paqueta.
The Hammers then struck a hammer blow that saw Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table reduced to just four points with chasers Man City having a game in hand on them.
Former Liverpool defender Carragher never won a league title during his Anfield tenure but stressed that Arsenal had become ‘arrogant’ in recent games during the end-of-season run-in.
‘The only way Arsenal put themselves in trouble is getting complacent, getting cocky, a little bit arrogant.
‘The game became so easy, Gabriel Jesus was at right-back for five minutes.’
However, Arsenal boss Arteta sighted different reasons for his team’s lacklustre second-half showing in the London derby clash.
Arsenal slipped up for the second consecutive match in their quest to lift the Premier League title
Carragher (pictured) believes Arsenal got ‘cocky’ and ‘complacent’ against West Ham on Sunday
The Spaniard stressed his side lacked ‘killer instinct’ to finish the game off and should have shown more ruthlessness in front of goal.
‘We didn’t understand what the game required in the moment. We need that ruthless mindset in those moments to go and kill a team.
‘When the game is there for the killing you have to do it. Today we haven’t.
‘The way we started was superb again, we were in total control, then we lost purpose,’ he said.
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