Arsenal have started the 2015/16 season disappointingly with a 2-0 defeat to West Ham at home.
Arsenal’s marquee signing so far this season, goalkeeper Petr Cech made errors leading to the two goals from Cheikou Kouyaté and Mauro Zárate respectively.
It was a nervy performance and while the Gunners had 62% possession, they struggled to find chances to score, with just 6 shots on target and Olivier Giroud isolated at the front.
The best opportunity Arsenal got was from Aaron Ramsey in the first half, but his attempt hit the bar.
Towards the end of the first half, Petr Cech made an error of judgement on a free-kick from Dmitri Payet. Cheikou Kouyaté managed to put the ball in to the net to make it 1-0 to the Hammers in the 43rd minute.
Then early on in the second half, the Arsenal defence misfired. Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave away the ball near the Arsenal area and gifted it to Mauro Zárate. A strike from 20 yards wrong-footed Petr Cech and West Ham were 2-0 up in the 57th minute.
A big number of Arsenal fans left before the end of the game, talk had been before this game that Arsenal were a tip of many to win the title.
Arsène Wenger admitted he felt the players were “maybe nervous” from the pressure, expressing after the game: “We were not convincing offensively or defensively. I knew it it could be a tricky game, if you can’t win the game, make sure you don’t lose it.”
Petr Cech tried to stay positive tweeting “tomorrow is another day to get ready for the next game” and “#COYG”
The next game is on Sunday for Arsenal away at Crystal Palace.
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