Arsenal will bounce back and challenge for the title

By 1970's Gooner

Same old Arsenal you might say. Having won so well against Chelsea in the Community Shield every one jumped on the band wagon and tipped us to win the League. The problem was that the players started believing them too and unfortunately allowed it to go over their heads. This was the one of three major reasons that contributed to loosing the game against West Ham.

All players started the game with an approach that they were winners just by turning up for the game! They forgot that to win any game in the PL you have to work and toil hard, very hard.

Almost all the starting 11 were below par barring Koscienly and the Ox (who again though made the mistake of trying to take the ball out of the area rather than passing it away which resulted in their killer second goal).

Giroud was almost non existent. What's the matter with him? Is he affected by the talk of Benzema coming to Arsenal? Wenger has not managed that situation well enough IMO.

Ozil was made ineffective by a 16 year old! WAKE UP DOZEY OZIL.

Switching Cazorla and Ramsey does not work. You are making two mistakes in one move there. First Cazorla is playing out of position. In central midfield he has excelled all through last season and by playing him on the left wing weakened the team's offensive approach. And secondly Ramsey was not ready to take up the mantle in a competitive game (which the Community Shield is not) in central midfield.

The team also lacked creativeness in the offensive areas of the pitch. This was partly addressed by introducing Alexis but he was not yet fully match fit and it showed.

The second reason for the defeat was bad goalkeeping. Cech was palpable for both goals especially the second one. He was too slow to react to the shot which was from outside the area and not hit with any ferocity. However on both occasions the central defenders let him down.
 
For the first the marking was nowhere and the goal scorer had a free run in for his header. The second, bot the BFG and Koscienly just stood there and did not even go through the motions of closing down the scorer and the shot.

The third reason for the defeat was the strange change of tactics by Wenger, I assume. Why did, on every occasion that Arsenal went forward in the first half, they elected to swing in crosses for Giroud?! On almost every occasion. Surely playing against a team like West Ham who thrive on long balls do you elect to forego your passing superiority and go for the crosses? STRANGE.

A very bad day at the office all round. And one which the manager must take blame as it is his job to keep the players feet on the ground and focus them for the game in hand.

Maybe this defeat is a blessing in disguise. It's a kick up the arse. It will shake the players up and management alike from believing their own hype to get down to hard business working on the nitty gritty both on and off the pitch.

If they do this they have a good chance against a strong Crystal Palace away.

Remember when we lost the first game of two seasons ago against Aston Villa at home?

Remember the splendid second part of last season? We haven't suddenly lost our competitiveness. So if it's in the head that can be rectified. It has been rectified in the past and will be so again. Believe me.

We will go on very strong run again and challenge for the title....