London Bridge is falling down : Arsenal Cech themselves, wreck themselves at Emirates

Gunners lose 2-0 to West Ham with new keeper at fault for both goals

LONDON:

Petr Cech suffered a nightmare Premier League debut for Arsenal as the goalkeeper’s costly blunders condemned the Gunners to a shock 2-0 defeat against West Ham on Sunday.

Cech’s £10 million arrival from champions Chelsea was hailed in some quarters as the move that would tip the balance of power in the title race firmly in Arsenal’s favour.

But the 33-year-old was badly at fault when Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate headed West Ham into the lead late in the first half at the Emirates stadium.

Cech wasn’t helped by an alarmingly careless display from his new team-mates, who crumbled again when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s mistake allowed Argentine forward Mauro Zarate to seal the most stunning result of the Premier League’s opening weekend. Cech was once again at fault for the second goal as he was beaten on his near post from way outside the box, but was perhaps unsighted by the men in front of him.

All the optimism surrounding Arsenal in the aftermath of last season’s FA Cup final rout of Aston Villa and last weekend’s Community Shield win over Chelsea was washed away in the start to Arsene Wenger’s 20th season in charge.

The Gunners boss must have been horrified with the way his team, tipped to finally end the club’s 12-year wait to win the title, were bullied by West Ham, who ended a run of 10 successive defeats against Arsenal with their first win over their London rivals since April 2007.

It was a dream start for new West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, who replaced Sam Allardyce in the close-season, and the perfect response to criticism of his decision to field a weakened team in their Europa League defeat against Astra Giurgiu on Thursday.

While Bilic celebrated with his club’s supporters at full-time, Wenger wore a frown as he trudged down the tunnel, possibly to reconsider his decision to distance himself from a bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

With French forward Olivier Giroud failing to repay Wenger’s faith after being handed a start ahead of Theo Walcott, Arsenal were mostly impotent in front of goal.

Swansea claim first ever point at The Bridge

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho delivered a clear sign he was fuming about the decision that cost Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois a red card and handed Swansea the chance to secure a 2-2 draw from the penalty spot on Saturday, refusing to comment on the incident.

“First game of the season, I don’t want to start in the first game,” he said. “I want to react this way so you don’t see he was [complaining] from day one. In day one we were punished, but it was not on day one that I opened my mouth.”

Swansea manager Garry Monk believes the way Andre Ayew took his goal offers a sign of things to come from the Ghana midfielder. “He has come in and been incredible. He worked hard with the group and the group has worked hard,” said Monk.

Pellegrini must deliver

Manuel Pellegrini may have been handed a new contract but, as Manchester City prepare to open their Premier League campaign at West Bromwich Albion on Monday, the Chilean coach is under no illusions he must win silverware to keep his job.

“For me a good season with a big team is that you must win a title,” he said. “You cannot say it is a very good season if you win nothing. After that it is very important in the way you win a title. Maybe you can win a title and if I am not happy in the way we play, then for me it is not a good season.”  

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th,  2015.

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