Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has stressed the need for his players to enhance their game management skills, following their thrilling 5-2 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.
Cyber Reporters reports that despite surging to a 4-0 lead early on, Arsenal allowed West Ham to score two quick goals, reducing their advantage to 4-2 and reigniting hope among the home fans.
However, Bukayo Saka’s successful penalty conversion helped to quell the Hammers’ resurgence and solidify Arsenal’s dominance.
Reflecting on the match, Arteta acknowledged that his team made the game more complicated than necessary.
“We made it crazy; we played so well at the start of the game. We scored three early goals, which was fantastic, but then they struck back immediately after kick-off, scoring once and then again soon after,” he said.
Arteta emphasized the importance of improving game management skills, stating, “We have to work on managing games better moving forward – while we did manage to see it out in the end, we should have been more composed.”
Meanwhile, former Liverpool midfielder, Jamie Redknapp praised Martin Ødegaard’s pivotal role in the Arsenal setup, describing him as the “glue” that holds the team together.
Ødegaard’s performance against West Ham was instrumental, as he converted a penalty and contributed significantly to the team’s attacking rhythm.
Redknapp in an interview said: “This game truly illustrates the vital role Martin Ødegaard plays in this Arsenal team. He seamlessly knits everything together on the field. His bravery in possession and his consistently smart passing make him an absolute joy to watch.”
