'I was most disappointed': David Moyes criticises one West Ham player after Arsenal defeat
West Ham United boss David Moyes claimed that he was very disappointed with the way Vladimir Coufal gave away a penalty against Arsenal last night.
The Gunners dominated the game and looked in complete control. They broke the deadlock in the second half through Gabriel Martinelli, but a one-goal lead meant that West Ham had a chance to get back into the game.
However, Coufal, who was already on a yellow card, committed a foul on Lacazette inside the penalty area. The Czech international clearly got the ball, but his follow-through forced him to make contact with the Arsenal number nine, who went down in pain.
Anthony Taylor took his time but decided to point to the spot and show a second yellow card to the defender. West Ham fans were furious with the decision, but Moyes believes that Coufal is to blame, not the referee.
Moyes: Coufal should have done better
The Irons boss told BBC Match of the Day after the game: “I was most disappointed with how the penalty came around.
“We missed a header and got into a mess in the back four. But Vladimir gave the referee a decision to make.
“I think it was an easy tackle to make, to toe-poke the ball away and knock it out or have a really good block. Because he only connects with the top part of the ball so his foot carries on he gives Anthony Taylor a decision to make.”
In another interview with BT Sport, Moyes added: “I think that Anthony Taylor might have got this one right. I think he did get the ball but Vladimir Coufal should have got better contact on the ball and maybe toe-poked it away or he needs to get fuller contact on it.”
TBR View:
Managers don’t usually come out and back the referees over their own players, but fair play to Moyes for doing exactly that last night.
However, Coufal and West Ham fans have every right to be hard done by. If the referee had decided against pointing to the spot, VAR wouldn’t have intervened. The only reason why the decision wasn’t overturned was because there wasn’t a clear and obvious error, the meaning of which is still unclear to many.
Moyes’ disappointment is understandable. Coufal could’ve certainly done better, but the Gunners were clearly the better side last night, and they deservedly picked up the three points in the end.
