Slaven Bilic triumphantly started his coaching episode in the English Premier league competition with a 2-0 win of his West Ham 2:0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Already from the opening minutes it was clear that Arsenal will have a problem as Bilic has set his tactic and team on the field very well and from the first minutes the guests seemed more dangerous than Arsenal.
Gunners as usual combined at some 30 meters from the goal and were dangerous from the wings over Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and later on over Sanchez.
Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 17th minute has tried his shot while in the 31st Cazorla with the help of some of West Ham players hit the crossbar. On the other side Payet was the main threat for the Hammers and most of their attacks went trough him.
At the end of first half Arsenal pushed up but It was the visitors who in the 43rd minutes have scored an opener. Payet has has sent a great cross from a free kick, Cech reacted poorly, and Kouyate with a header sent it into an empty net.
A second half brought an even faster pace of the game, in which guests were even more dangerous from their counterattacks.
Wenger’s players threatened mainly over Giroud, who in two minutes had two great opportunities but Adrian denied both of them. In the 57th minute West Ham score again, it was over Zarate just outside of the box who’s shot finds the “small” left net making a double lead for the Hammers. Until the end Gunners had some good opportunities but Adrian was on task to keep his net clean.
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Match Highlights
Goals: C. Kouyaté 43′, M. Zárate 57′
Team Lineups
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud.
WEST HAM (4-1-2-1-2): Adrian; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Oxford; Noble, Kouyate; Payet; Zarate, Sakho.