Mark Noble felt West Ham United’s play warranted more from Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat by Arsenal.
Starting for the 484th time in a Hammers shirt and appearing in his 129th London derby, the veteran midfielder was part of a performance that was pleasing for at least the first hour.
But ultimately Noble and his teammates were left to rue defensive mishaps from two Arsenal corners which led to headers from Rob Holding and Gabriel either side of Jarrod Bowen’s deflected equaliser.
“It’s really disappointing to lose to two set plays, but we knew we didn’t have as big a team as we usually have out,” he observed. “I thought at times we played really well with the ball but when you concede from two set plays it’s a bit soul destroying.
“When you mark zonally you normally have your smaller players in front of your bigger players and it’s for the smaller players really to try and block their runs. It was a good header. To be fair to Holding, it was a great header and it’s just disappointing it with us because we’re normally good at that and today they got two set plays and won the game.
“Apart from that, I thought the boys were great. Some of the play was really good and some of the passing. We didn’t really challenge [Aaron] Ramsdale, but there was a lot of good play out there today.”
Noble was one of a number of players switched into the starting XI by manager David Moyes, whose team were in action less than 72 hours after an emotionally and physically draining UEFA Europa League semi-final first-leg tie with Eintracht Frankfurt, which also ended in a frustrating 2-1 home defeat.
With the return leg to be played in Germany this coming Thursday, the 34-year-old understands why the Scot opted to shuffle his pack.
“I think, when you have to do a two-day turnaround at the end of the season, it becomes tough, especially with the emotions of a semi-final,” he observed.
“Arsenal have done it plenty of times in the past, so they know themselves, but when you have got a week to rest up and prepare it is a lot easier, but would we change the position we’re in? No.
“We’ve got a massive game on Thursday and we will travel to Germany on Wednesday and try and get into Europe that way.”
While Sunday’s game may have ended in defeat, the No16 admitted he relished the experience of playing in a Premier League derby one final time in his 18-year career in Claret and Blue.
“Look, when you’re at my age, you come into the team and just want to play well and enjoy the occasion,” he confirmed. “This was my last London derby and I really enjoyed it.
“But I’ve always said from the start of my career that I want to end on my terms and I am doing that with a great bunch of players and an incredible season and even though it’s two weeks away, it’s really strange because we’ve got so much to play for still.
“I’m just enjoying every minute of it.”
