Partey highlights a key Arsenal problem

The Gunners made a commendable comeback in the draw with West Ham, but could have avoided being left in such a vulnerable state.

Thomas Partey has urged Arsenal to get off to better starts in games rather than save their best for last.

The Gunners fell behind for the fourth time in five Premier League games after West Ham stormed into a 3-0 lead inside 32 minutes during Sunday’s London derby.

Two own goals from Tomas Soucek and Craig Dawson, however, put Arsenal back into the match past the hour-mark. Alexandre Lacazette then scored an 82nd-minute equalizer to complete a superb 3-3 comeback draw.

But while the second-half fightback was indeed impressive, Partey conceded Arsenal must learn to begin and finish games strongly.

“I think we could have done better from the beginning,” the midfielder told the club’s website after the 3-3 thriller.

“They dominated from the beginning and we were completely lost.

“I think they came out very strong. They overloaded us on the outside and they are strong with crossing.

“We allowed them too much time with the crossing and that hurt us a lot. Second half, we made sure we blocked all the crosses. From there, we started to dominate.

“We stuck to our plan. We know how to hurt them, we went all-out and everybody was fighting as a team.”

Partey added: “I think the spirit was high after we conceded three goals. From there, we started to give our all. But we have to start as we ended, in both halves.

“I think we have to learn from all these mistakes, we have to know when we have to go out strong, when we have to dominate from the beginning.

“It’s important in the Premier League to start winning from the beginning to be in the top. You have to start good and end well.”