Ally McCoist has issued an emphatic defence of Arsenal amid talks that they bottled the West Ham game last week.
The Gunners were quick out of the blocks at the London Stadium, racing into a 2-0 lead within 10 minutes.
Gabriel Jesus tapped home in the seventh minute to get Arsenal up and running in the Premier League match.
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard then doubled the visitors’ lead with a volley three minutes later.
However, West Ham halved the deficit on 33 minutes.
Arsenal gave away a sloppy penalty and Said Benrahma made no mistake from the spot.
Then, early on in the second half, Jarrod Bowen volleyed home for a share of the spoils.
It was Arsenal’s second consecutive Premier League draw, and it allowed Manchester City to close in.
Ahead of the Gunners’ meeting with Southampton, the Citizens sit just four points behind Mikel Arteta’s side.
Pep Guardiola’s charges also have a game in hand on Arsenal, and the two lock horns next week.
This has led to suggestions that the Gunners are capitulating in pursuit of their first title since 2004.
‘That’s a lot of nonsense’
However, McCoist rubbished those claims on talkSPORT.
“In Arsenal’s defence,” he began.
“In normal circumstances a draw at Anfield and a draw against West Ham fighting for their lives isn’t a disaster.
“But the fact they were 2-0 up in both games, that’s the thing that doesn’t look so good at all.”
TalkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil then asked: “Are we out of order saying they bottled it?”
McCoist replied: “Oh yeah, out of order! Absolutely out of order.
“How can you say you bottled it at Anfield? You’ve gone there and you’re 2-0 up, playing really well.”
He added: “But Liverpool have got that in them. West Ham are fighting for their lives.
“Listen. I’m not of the school that they bottled it, that’s a lot of nonsense. Other teams came back and played well.
“Arsenal have done fantastically well so far, but you’ve got to say, we’ve been sitting there for a long while now, weeks and weeks.
“You and I have spoken about it on numerous occasions Alan, saying ‘you know something, Man City – they’ve not clicked yet’.
“Well, it looks as if now they’re just going into top gear.”
Our view
It’s great to hear McCoist launch into such an impassioned defence of Arsenal at a time when fans might be feeling alarmed.
The Gunners have performed amazingly well this season, staying clear of City and well ahead of the rest of the Premier League.
Whatever happens this season, Arsenal have built an outstanding young team that will only get better and better in coming years.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
