‘The same old problem’ Arsenal legend questions mentality after West Ham shock

They just can’t solve the Hammers’ defense and Petr Cech made poor judgment.

Mertesacker knows the Gunners can not afford to lose any early ground on their title rivals, which proved so costly last season.

Liverpool also faced a big game of sorts, taking on a Stoke side that had humiliated the Reds in their final game of last season – inflicting a 6-1 defeat on Brendan Rodgers’ team. Cech will find his footing soon and much of it will be due to his comfort level increasing with his back line and the familiarity between defense and keeper growing.

Arsenal are clearly still vulnerable from set-pieces, as the first goal showed. A splendid flat and fast delivery took out the whole rearguard and tempted Cech into an area that should have been avoided.

“Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazidis and the board have worked wonders putting the club on the most solid financial footing imaginable”. Even so, the goalkeeper’s judgement in attempting to double-fist a ball he had no hope of reaching must be questioned. Arsenal has plenty of them. He’ll be back to his best sooner rather than later.

In the 2012/13 season the Gunners had enjoyed a strong finale to the season, leapfrogging Tottenham into fourth place, ahead of the new season there was fresh optimism the club would kick on.

With the injury prone Jack Wilshere struggling through yet another injury, it will be down to Wenger and Arsenal well to remove Ramsey and supplant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to this position if needed.

But the 24-year-old failed to make a single tackle against West Ham, but he can be relied on to expect better of himself and will be out to prove the critics yet again come next Sunday’s visit to Selhurst Park. New boy Payet was disciplined, energetic and inventive, while 16-year-old boy Reece Oxford strolled around with the composure of an global veteran. Sanchez can score goals.

The youngster has been training with the first team since last season and was an unused sub for a Capital One Cup tie against Sheffield United at the age of just 15 in September. There will be little concern over Cech but Wenger’s belief that he does not necessarily need another top-class striker requires reassessment.

“That’s the mentality I was brought up in, that’s the same from the manager on a daily basis”. They have streaks where they play like champions, but then they look like the same old predictable Arsenal, easily outplayed and lacking attacking urgency.