Match Reaction - Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Whatever the mistakes by Cech, this was a result of tactical deficiency.

We conceded the first goal on nine ocassions last season, only once did we come back to win against a manager less Crystal Palace.

We don't have the players or the tactical nous from the manager to play the expansive football we want, West Ham were always going to make us play in front of them and look to take any chance from set pieces or counter. They deserved to win and Slaven Bilic saw us coming a mile off, predictable.

[PGFC]

lol...Wenger does it on purpose, just to upset GW.

[Marc Overmars]

If we don't start well and score then this is the always the risk. We're so poor at chasing, West Ham had the cigars out when defending today. Many other teams will do so as well.

Let's just stick to what we know rather than pretend we're any good. Bring on the 4th place scrap.

[Master Splinter]

Cech cost us the game quite clearly.

But the conservatism in going with the packed midfield again shows that Wenger has not learnt anything. Only more injuries leading to him stumbling upon a working formation will change things. So there's some hope, I suppose, with all the certain upcoming injuries.

Even when we had worse personnel in defence, I always felt that the lack of organisation in midfield or stupid mistakes like the one from Oxlade (yet again) were the main reason for all the pressure. I think that showed again today and when your goalkeeper plays like a clown on his debut, you're fucked.

No Walcott or Alexis means no quick movement up front, no guile, no unpredictability and no goals. Ox is good, but he's not a forward and we need at least two of Alexis, Theo or Ox to play. You can get away with playing a lone Giroud in some games, but over the season, the lack of a direct, incisive outlet will ultimately cost you.

The difference Bellerin makes should be obvious by now too. Anyone thinking Debuchy is for some reason a better defender should remember that Bellerin had outstanding games against City, United, Liverpool and Chelsea last season. Having players like Bellerin, Coquelin, Ox, Sanchez and Theo gives the team so much more energy and a new dimension. It also dilutes the creative players' uses when they've got no players or spaces to play with and pass to.

We'll bounce back comfortably from this and comfortably finish in the top three, but unless there's some clear-cut changes in team selection, there won't be progress. A couple of signings would certainly help, but they won't help us to a title if they're handicapped too.

And bring back Szczesny. He's the most decisive keeper on set-pieces we've had. If Cech has a few more games like that, it will become a huge problem.

[Static]

ROFL WHAT

[Marc Overmars]

As good as he can be at times, I'm not really sure how I feel about Ramsey.

[Gooner23]

As good as he can be at times, I'm not really sure how I feel about Ramsey.

I find him incredibly frustrating. If the goals dry up (which they kind of have) there's not much left because he is dreadful positionally and gives the ball away cheaply.

[Niall_Quinn]

I find him incredibly frustrating. If the goals dry up (which they kind of have) there's not much left because he is dreadful positionally and gives the ball away cheaply.

Cazorla and Ozil were effectively taken out of the game today by Wenger's absolute insistence of forcing certain players into the starting eleven. He has no notion of squad rotation or selecting a team to beat specific opposition. It sounds ludicrous for fans on a message board to be questioning a man with 20 years experience at the club. You end up assuming that experience must account for something and the fans and the media and the ex-players and the old lady from the pie shop down the road who doesn't even like football must all be wrong.

But how many seasons have to pass before the obvious is accepted as fact?

[LDG]

Midfield was appauling today. They were all so square. No movement.

AOC, by far out most dangerous player kept coming inside and was then moved to RB.

Ozil had no movement in front of him

Our ball retention was terrible

We didn't work as hard as West Ham and were second to every ball.

The defence was sloppy and slow.

The keeper looked like a lumbering oaf.

All in all.

Fucking crap

[Kano]

As good as he can be at times, I'm not really sure how I feel about Ramsey.

If Ramsey left and worked under a manager that developed his game on and off the pitch, he could be one of the best in the world. He works under a manager who doesn't teach him any discipline in his role, so like everyone else out there wearing our shirt, they are left to figure it out for themselves. As long as he stays at the club under Wenger, he'll remain a frustrating player to watch.