EPL: Petr Cech has shocker as West Ham beat Arsenal 2-0
PETR Cech was meant to hand Arsenal 10-15 points per season. But on opening night, their new keeper cost them in a 2-0 loss to West Ham.
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PETR Cech has endured a Premier League debut to forget for Arsenal as his errors helped West Ham United to record a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Cech’s arrival from Chelsea has been acclaimed as a signing that could turn Arsenal into title contenders, but he was found wanting as Arsene Wenger’s side on Sunday opened the Premier League season with a home defeat for the second time in three years.
Cech’s rash charge allowed Cheikhou Kouyate to head West Ham in front from debutant Dimitri Payet’s 43rd-minute free-kick and the Czech international’s slowness to get down saw him beaten at his near post from 25 yards by Mauro Zarate shortly before the hour.
West Ham’s win echoed Aston Villa’s 3-1 success at the Emirates on the first day of the 2013-14 campaign and enabled Slaven Bilic to crown his first league game as manager with a famous victory.
“The players were maybe too nervous and put too much pressure on themselves,” Wenger said.
“We were not convincing offensively or defensively.
“I knew it could be a tricky game. We know fitness wise, West Ham were ahead of us, they had already played competitive games. You never have the same intensity as them.
“But if you can’t win the game, make sure you don’t lose it.
“We have been hurt mentally and it is a good opportunity to respond. We will respond to that accident.”
Asked for his view on Cech’s display, Wenger opted against publicly criticising his new signing.
“It is not only him, we have enough experience at the back. The mistake was a collective one,” Wenger said.
“I can’t see many convincing performances today. I haven’t spoken to him yet.
“The concentration was maybe not there and the organisation wasn’t there. We gave them too much space to run into.”
Bilic named 16-year-old Reece Oxford in midfield and saw the teenager turn in a commanding display as West Ham bounced back from their Europa League elimination at the hands of Romanians Astra Giurgiu last Thursday.
Wenger sent on Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal sought to claw back their two-goal deficit, but the closest they came to scoring was a deflected first-half shot by Aaron Ramsey that hit the bar.
New West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admitted he was surprised how well his side played in a dream start to his reign.
“I know we have a good team but I wasn’t sure how we were going to show it,” the Croatian said.
“It’s great start for us against a team that are title contenders.
“This is very special. I’m very proud of the second half performance.”
Key to West Ham’s first win over Arsenal in eight years was the remarkably mature display of 16-year-old Reece Oxford, who shone in a midfield holding role just weeks after becoming the club’s youngest ever player.
“People were asking ‘are you sure he is 16?’ It was going to be a risk but he has got something,” Bilic said.
“I am very proud of him. Only on paper he is 16, he is a part of this new generation.”
Originally published as EPL: Petr Cech has shocker as West Ham beat Arsenal 2-0
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