Daily WHUFC News - 10th August 2015

Kouyate and Zarate seal opening day win
WHUFC.com

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham United
Barclays Premier League

West Ham United kicked off the new season in style, winning 2-0 at Arsenal thanks to goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate.
Slaven Bilic could not have asked for a better to start to life as a Barclays Premier League manager, orchestrating the Hammers' first win at Emirates Stadium since 2007 and arresting a run of ten straight defeats to the Gunners. The 3,000 travelling fans were in dreamland when Kouyate rose to head their side into a 43rd minute lead, and it got better soon after the restart as Mauro Zarate fired home from long range. Arsenal huffed and puffed but struggled to break a resilientr Hammers side down as the east Londoners claimed the derby bragging rights. The big pre-match news was that the Hammers handed a league debut to Reece Oxford, making the Academy product the youngest ever Hammer to play in the Premier League. The 16-year-old made a composed start too, as West Ham made an early chance, Tomkins bursting forward from right back to knock across looking for Diafra Sakho, but Per Mertesacker was well positioned to stick a giant limb out and conced a corner.

After Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna picked up early bookings, Arsenal's first opportunity came with eleven minutes on the clock when Winston Reid's clearance was picked up by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who crashed a volley over. Dimitri Payet gave a glimpse of his considerable talent when he took an Aaron Cresswell crossfield ball out of the sky and crossed to Sakho, but Laurent Koscielny got across to ensure the ball would squirt through to Petr Cech. Ogbonna was impressing on debut and he showed sharp reactions to block from Olivier Giroud after the Frenchman controlled a Francis Coquelin cross on his chest.

On the half hour the Gunners came close to taking a fortunate lead when Aaron Ramsey's shot from outside the box took a massive deflection off Aaron Cresswell, looped up and struck the top of the crossbar with Adrian backpedalling. Ramsey and Payet then exchanged off-target shots, and just as it looked as though the interval would be reached the the scoresheet blank, Kouyate sent the away end into raptures.

Oxford was fouled by Ramsey, giving the Hammers a free-kick in a dangerous position and Kouyate was sharpest to it, beating Cech to Payet's delivery to nod into a gaping net. If the 3,000 travelling fans thought that was good, it got even better twelve minutes after the interval when Zarate, back from a loan spell at Queens Park Rangers, made it 2-0. Again, Cech would have been disappointed with his contribution as Zarate picked up on a loose clearance, spotted the shooting chance 25 yards out and beat the goalkeeper low to his right.

Arsene Wenger reacted by introducing Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez from the bench, but still the Hammers stood firm to restrict the home side's chances. Arsenal enjoyed more and more possession as the game went on, but West Ham defended strongly to frustrate the home crowd.
Adrian was sharp to deny Sanchez on a couple of occasions but he was not overworked as Bilic made the perfect start to life in the hotseat.

Arsenal: Cech; Debuchy (Alexis 67), Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin (Walcott 58), Ramsey; Cazorla, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Chambers

Booked: Ramsey

West Ham United: Adrian; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Oxford (Nolan 79), Noble, Kouyate, Payet; Zarate (Jarvis 62), Sakho (Maiga 90)
Subs: Randolph, Collins, Poyet, Lanzini

Goals: Kouyate 43, Zarate 57

Booked: Noble, Ogbonna, Tomkins

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Noble thrilled with victory
WHUFC.com

West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble could not hide his excitement after playing his part in a memorable 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. Noble conducted a number of post-match interviews but saved his best smile for West Ham TV. The experienced midfielder was thrilled to be part of a superb all-round team display against the FA Cup holders and says it was one of the best victories he has ever achieved over the north London Club. Cheikhou Kouyate's header on the stroke of half-time and Mauro Zarate's well taken strike early in the second sealed an impressive three points for the Hammers. Noble had nothing but praise for the way his team-mates stuck together and showed the character and discipline to come away with a victory. Noble said: "It doesn't get much better than that. You can see how happy I am. I have done other interviews and had to be serious! This was a great performance and over the years we have not had the greatest of success here. "I have won here before when Bobby Zamora scored that fantastic goal and we have won today even more convincing than we did before. "It was a freak of nature when we won that day (back in 2007) and had one shot on target and scored. They had 49 shots at goal and didn't and we had the great escape with Carlos (Tevez). "But the whole team were fantastic today and I could go through every single one of them. I was proud of them today."

Noble had special praise for Reece Oxford who became the youngest player in the Club's history to make his Premier League debut at just 16 and feels he will grow even stronger. Noble added: "Reece has got the height, the stature to play in this league. He has still got a lot to learn and is enthusiastic. "The great thing about him is that he takes everything in his stride and that is great when you are playing in front of 50,000 every week. "I am on him in every day in training and I don't let him slip up one bit. He gets treated like any other player does because I know what he is capable of and I want to get the best out of him."

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'It's an absolutely amazing result'
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic hailed every member of his team as West Ham United scored a 2-0 opening-day Barclays Premier League victory at Arsenal.
The Hammers scored a goal in each half through Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate to stun the Emirates, but they were just two of 14 heroes in Claret and Blue, said to the manager. Talking to West Ham TV after his Barclays Premier League managerial debut ended in success, the manager also discussed his decision to hand 16-year-old Reece Oxford a start in a deep-lying midfield role.

"It is a great win for us, a great start for us and it's great for the Club and for the fans especially because it's Arsenal," Bilic beamed. "It's one of the biggest teams and one of the contenders and it's the first day and we did it in their stadium. I don't know how long it is, five years, ten years, but it's an absolutely amazing result. "In the first half, to be fair I have no problem admitting that we stole the first goal. We deserved the goal, but we didn't deserve to be one up considering what was going on on the pitch. We were lucky. Maybe a draw at half-time would be fair because they were more aggressive and aware for the second ball, which is unacceptable. They can be better, some of their players, but more aggressive and more aware, no. "At half-time I said some good things but I said 'OK, we are winning guys, but if we are going to be like that we have to improve'. The team performance in the second half was magnificent, from the goalkeeper to Modibo who came on for the last few minutes. "As a unit we were brilliant closing them, sometimes very early and sometimes when we let them have the ball with the players who we wanted to have the ball, not the main players. Sometimes we defended by pushing up, we were keeping the ball and we were penetrating, Sakho and Dimitri were putting their centre-halves under pressure and keeping the ball when needed. Everyone was really good." It's one of the biggest teams and one of the contenders and it's the first day and we did it in their stadium. I don't know how long it is, five years, ten years, but it's an absolutely amazing result

Bilic spoke with pride at the nature of West Ham's two goals, one of which came from a Dimitri Payet headed home by Kouyate and the second which saw the Hammers win the ball back deep inside the Arsenal half before Zarate blasted low past Petr Cech from 25 yards.
While he did not get his name on the scoresheet, 16-year-old Reece Oxford also stole the headlines by producing a performance that belied his tender years and will have caught the attention of football fans everywhere. Composed, assured and confident, Oxford won praise from his manager after a simply outstanding Barclays Premier League debut "To talk about Reece now is easy but I don't want to give lessons. We just put Reece in the team because I wanted to combine this game between him and Kevin Nolan. "We needed someone to sit there and be a centre-half and not a centre-half, to take the long balls and be good in the air and sit and wait and be ready for Cazorla, Ozil or Ramsey in that space between the lines. "We also wanted a player who can turn and make good passes and we picked him because he has got it all – he is tall, he is strong, he can run, he is quick, he can head a ball and is good in a duel, he can pass the ball and he can turn.
"The only problem was that he is 16 but then I thought 'Should I react by what will happen if it doesn't work out, or should I try to do everything for it to work' and we stuck to that and it proved us right today! "Of course Reece is still 16 and not 19, but we will try to manage him now and we will keep him away from all the fuss that is going to be created. That is part of our job, but the boy has a future and we have to manage him the right way in every aspect."

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Oxford - 'It was a great debut'
WHUFC.com

Reece Oxford might only be 16 but nobody at the Emirates Stadium would have guessed that from the calm and composed display he gave on his Barclays Premier League debut on Sunday. The Hammers youngster starred as his team ended a run of ten successive defeats to the Gunners in style. Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate scored the goals to seal a 2-0 victory, leaving Oxford delighted at getting the season - and his top flight career - off to the perfect start. He told West Ham TV: "It was a great debut for me and a great day for the team. They just encouraged me and everyone was talking to me - Nobles, Reidy, Angelo, everyone. It was a great experience. "I dont think we've won here for a long time, so it was a great debut! "Everyone was encouraging each other and working for each other. If someone was out of position someone fills in for them. Nobody was taking a break and we just wanted it today."

Kouyate's header two minutes before the interval was quickly backed up by Zarate's strike soon after and Oxford was thrilled with the timing of the goals. He explained: "We were practicing set pieces in training yesterday and it worked. We had a lot of players of six-foot plus and Cheikhou got on the end of that one. "We caught them on the counter attack for the second and Zarate just finished it like he normally does." Oxford could not have wished for a better springboard into the 2015/16 season and now he just wants to continue on his upward path. He added: "It's a massive season for me and the team, and with England with the U17 World Cup. Hopefully I can just carry on the way I'm playing now. "When he told me I was starting I was nervous, to think I would be playing against the likes of Ozil, but I just got my head down and it was good. "I learned a lot from it because Arsenal probably haVe the strongest midfield in the Premier League. Playing against the best will make you the best and Nobes and Cheik helped me a lot in the game."

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Lionel Messi would not faze West Ham's Reece Oxford - Slaven Bilic
BBC.co.uk

Lionel Messi would struggle to faze 16-year-old West Ham midfielder Reece Oxford, according to Hammers boss Slaven Bilic. The teenager marked a memorable Premier League debut by helping his side to a shock 2-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday. Oxford's inclusion in the side for the first game of season came as a surprise, but Bilic was confident he had the mental strength to handle it. "If Messi was in front of me, I'd be more fazed than Reece," Bilic said. Against Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud, Oxford impressed as he played his part in restricting the Gunners to few clear-cut opportunities. The West Ham youth product finished the game with the best pass percentage in the match, with 95%.
Bilic added on Sky Sports: "People were asking: 'Are you sure he is 16?' "It was going to be a risk but he has got something. I am very proud of him. "Only on paper he is 16. He is a part of this new generation."

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Arsenal 0 West Ham 2
9 August 2015
Last updated at 17:39
By Chris Osborne
BBC Sport

Arsenal's season started with defeat as West Ham won their first Premier League game under manager Slaven Bilic. Keeper Petr Cech misjudged Dimitri Payet's free-kick to allow Cheikhou Kouyate to nod in the Hammers' first. After the break, Mauro Zarate finished from 20 yards after being gifted the ball by the Gunners defence. Arsenal had 62% of possession, but put just six of 22 shots on target as Aaron Ramsey's first-half effort against the bar was the closest they came. Gunners fans, who left the Emirates Stadium in large numbers before the final whistle, will feel like they have seen all this before, not just in the way their side performed, but also in the familiarity of their starting line-up. Cech's arrival from Chelsea has been Wenger's only summer signing since last term's third-place finish, and it was an uncharacteristic display from the experienced keeper. The 33-year-old was not only at fault for West Ham's opener, but was wrong-footed by Zarate's strike, although he received little help from his defence as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin gave the ball away on the edge of their own area. Olivier Giroud frequently looked isolated up front, which will no doubt increase the hope among Arsenal supporters that a reported deal for Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema can be completed.

Bilic fitting the bill?
Bilic, 46, replaced Sam Allardyce this summer and was handed a remit of getting the east London club playing 'the West Ham way' - a brand of football based around an attacking and entertaining approach. But the Hammers showed the battling qualities Bilic was renowned for during his spell as a defender with the club from 1996 to 1997. Reece Oxford, who became his side's youngest-ever Premier League player at the age of 16 years and 237 days, epitomised West Ham's fighting spirit, screening his defence superbly from midfield.

Man of the match - Reece Oxford

Reece Oxford had the game's highest passing accuracy (95%), lost possession just once and made two blocks and three interceptions

Manager reaction

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We were not convincing offensively or defensively. I knew it it could be a tricky game, if you can't win the game, make sure you don't lose it. "The players were maybe too nervous and put too much pressure on themselves. "Today we have been hurt mentally and it is a good opportunity to respond."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on Reece Oxford: "People were asking: 'Are you sure he is 16?' "It was going to be a risk but he has got something. I thought we needed someone to sit in front of the defence who is cool and can be a third defender, but who can also play on the ball. I am very proud of him. "Only on paper he is 16. He is a part of this new generation. Put it this way, if Lionel Messi was in front of me, I would be more fazed than Reece. "I know we have a good team and I know we have that in ourselves but I wasn't sure how we were going to show it."

The stats you need to know

West Ham ended a run of nine straight league defeats against Arsenal
They secured a first win at the Emirates since 2007, a game which was Arsenal's first defeat at their new ground
Arsenal have failed to score in four of their last five league games at home
Only Kevin De Bruyne (20) has delivered more assists than Dimitri Payet (18) in the top five European leagues since the start of last season
All three of Mauro Zarate's Premier League goals for West Ham have come away from home
Reece Oxford became the second-youngest player to start a Premier League game, after Jose Baxter (for Everton against West Brom in August 2008)

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Arsenal 0-2 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 9th August 2015
By: Staff Writer

Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate may have struck the goals that secured West Ham's first win at the Emirates since 2007 - but it was a home grown youngster who took all the plaudits after the game. 16-year-old Reece Oxford played for 79 minutes of today's game and was instrumental in helping West Ham secure an impressive 2-0 opening day win with a 95 per cent pass success rate - the highest of any player from either team. And his performance left both team mates and pundits gushing with praise after the game for a performance that belied his years. Oxford slotted into West Ham's well-drilled, four-man midfield with comparative ease as the Hammers frustrated their opponents to record a first clean sheet at the Emirates since the 1-0 win in the 2006/07 'Great Escape'. As expected, Arsenal created a number of chances but Adrian and his defence stood firm to deny their hosts. However for the first time in a while, the Hammers also looked a genuine threat on the counter - and it was from two such breaks that Slaven Bilic's new-look side scored both their goals. Kouyate opened West Ham's account in the closing moments of the first half to the delight of the 3,000 travelling fans who had made the short trip across the capital. Dimitri Payet, who pulled the strings for the Hammers from midfield whipped a free kick towards the penalty spot where Kouyate lunged ahead of Cech to send the ball into an empty net. And victory was confirmed 12 minutes after the restart when Mauro Zarate, only playing due to the injuries to Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia turned smartly after Arsenal had conceded possession cheaply before firing expertly into Petr Cech's bottom right corner. We'll have more reaction to today's impressive win throughout later today...

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He's bigger than me - and probably better than me!
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 9th August 2015
By: Staff Writer

Winston Reid has paid tribute to his young team mate Reece Oxford on the day the 16-year-old made his Premier League debut.

The Academy youngster started against Arsenal at the Emirates this afternoon and was instrumental in helping West Ham secure an impressive 2-0 opening day win with a 95 per cent pass succcess rate - the highest of any player from either team.

After the game, his team mate Winston Reid - who was named Man of the Match for his performance at the heart of West Ham's defence - paid tribute to Oxford. "He's been brilliant," said Reid. "He's only 16 and look at him, he's bigger than me and probably better than me!

He's a really good player and he's come into the squad as a young guy, but he listens to us and he's got his whole future ahead of him. He's going to be brilliant."

rvine Welsh ✔@IrvineWelsh
At least nobody can say that Ozil is thick. I believe he received an Oxford education. #coyi
5:10 PM - 9 Aug 2015

And with view to Bilic and the impression he has made since being introuced as West Ham's latest manager, he added: "He's changed us and he's got us thinking very positivlely, but most importantly everyone in the dressing room is working really hard.

"So full credit to him.

"The manager provided a fantastic game plan today. We followed it but we always needed a bit of luck on our side. Adrian made some good saves but I thought we really deserved it as we worked really hard."

Matthew Etherington ✔@mattyethers
Reece Oxford produced one of the best PL debuts i have seen for a long long time.. COYI
5:26 PM - 9 Aug 2015

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Arsenal 0-2 West Ham: Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate secure shock win
Last Updated: 09/08/15 6:47pm
SSN

Goalkeeper Petr Cech endured a nightmare debut as Arsenal were beaten 2-0 at home by West Ham in their Premier League opener. Cheikhou Kouyate put the Hammers ahead late in the first half when he beat Cech to a free-kick and headed into the empty net. Cech, a summer signing from Chelsea, was beaten again in the 57th minute when he was wrong-footed and unable to keep out Mauro Zarate's shot from outside the box. The Gunners hardly threatened a comeback as the visitors, for whom 16-year-old Reece Oxford started in midfield, held out to secure all three points in Slaven Bilic's first top-flight match in charge. The Croatian could hardly have wished for a better performance on the opening day after seeing his side knocked out of the Europa League in Romania on Thursday evening. Bilic sprang a surprise in his starting line-up at the Emirates by handing Oxford his league debut, making him the seventh-youngest player to feature in the Premier League. Olivier Giroud was given the nod in attack for Arsenal ahead of Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez made the bench even though he was not expected to feature. Arsenal, who won the FA Community Shield at Wembley last weekend with victory over Chelsea, made a bright start with the lively Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain volleying the ball over the crossbar from 20 yards. West Ham offered some attacking threat of their own, with Zarate and Diafra Sakho at the top of the diamond fed by the impressive Frenchman Dimitri Payet. The closest either side came to an opener was in the 31st minute when Aaron Ramsey's 20-yard half-volley deflected off the back of defender Aaron Creswell and looped onto the crossbar. But the visitors took the lead late in the half when Payet whipped a free-kick into the right side of the Arsenal penalty area and as Cech rushed off his line in an attempt to punch clear, he was beaten to the ball by Kouyate, who headed into the unguarded net. The Gunners laboured through the opening stages of the second half before Giroud fired into the side netting after being played down the left of the penalty area by Mesut Ozil. But it was West Ham who struck next after 57 minutes as Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to clear his lines properly and Zarate picked up the loose ball, turned and fired a shot into the bottom corner past a wrong-footed Cech. Wenger responded by bringing on Walcott and then Sanchez but the Gunners continued to struggle to create chances. Oxlade-Chamberlain smashed the ball into the side netting and Sanchez forced a save from Adrian in injury-time. The hosts were unable to force their way back into the match, though, as West Ham closed out a first victory over the Gunners since April 2007.

Player ratings

Arsenal: Cech (5), Debuchy (5), Mertesacker (6), Koscielny (5), Monreal (5), Coquelin (5), Ramsey (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (6), Ozil (5), Cazorla (6), Giroud (6).

Subs: Walcott (5), Sanchez (6).

West Ham: Adrian (7), Tomkins (6), Reid (7), Ogbonna (6), Cresswell (6), Oxford (7), Noble (6), Kouyate (7), Payet (7), Zarate (7), Sakho (7).

Subs: Nolan (5), Jarvis (5), Maiga (5).

Man of the Match: Winston Reid (West Ham)

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Slaven Bilic proud after West Ham beat Arsenal on opening day
Last Updated: 09/08/15 5:54pm
SSN

Slaven Bilic declared himself a "proud" man after West Ham started their Premier League season with a 2-0 win at Arsenal. The Hammers ended a barren run against the Gunners with goals either side of half-time from Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate. It is the first time the Hammers have beaten their London rivals since 2007 and Bilic was delighted with the display, particularly in the second half. "It's a great start for us," he told Sky Sports. "Not only because we got three points but we did so against a team who are one of the main contenders for the title and did really well in pre-season. "It's a London derby too and in the last five years we have lost every game against them home and away, which makes it even bigger. It would be big anyway but this makes it a bit special. "I know we have a good team, but I wasn't sure we were going to show that in the way we did, especially in the second half.

In his first league match in charge, Bilic sprang a surprise by naming 16-year-old Reece Oxford in his starting line-up. The Hammers academy product was the seventh-youngest player to appear in the Premier League but produced an accomplished performance at the Emirates.
"It was a risk and it will be a risk because he is 16, but he has got something," said Bilic. "I played him because I thought for this kind of game I needed someone to sit in front of the back four, to be like a third centre-back, to be cool and who is good on the ball. I am very proud of him. "He is 16 in his head and on paper but he is a part of this new generation. We all try to help him, I spoke to him, the players and staff did, I told him before (we played) Astra that whatever he does wrong is my fault - I am lucky he rarely does something wrong."

While the win is the ideal start for the Hammers, Bilic acknowledges they can still improve next weekend at home to Leicester City.
"It's just a great start, it's not finished," he said. "It would be very catastrophic if we think we can do it like big charlies, we have to work hard and play better than today. "If next game we show something we showed in the first half we have no chance, but we have to work hard, that's our job. If we do that, with a bit of luck and if we can stay away from injuries, I am optimistic."

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West Ham midfield Reece Oxford can be a star, says Niall Quinn
Last Updated: 09/08/15 7:01pm
SSN

Niall Quinn declared that a star had been born after the performance of West Ham youngster Reece Oxford in the Hammers' 2-0 win at Arsenal. The 16-year-old started at the base of midfield for his league debut, becoming the seventh youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League, and shone for Slaven Bilic's side. Sky Sports co-commentator Quinn was thoroughly impressed by the Hammers and, in particular, Oxford. A star is born and Cech stutters on debut, talking points from Arsenal's defeat to West Ham... "They were excellent and the young lad, young Reece Oxford in the middle of the field – well that's dream stuff, to say a star is born it's absolutely true," he said. "The kid's not only broken some phenomenal records and played the game, he was outstanding. "I kept a real close eye on him, sometimes off the ball he'd turn around and give out instructions, pointing fingers, letting things develop. "He had a maturity today which was so hard to understand because you think he's going to be lost out there and that all the others players are going to have to rally round him and it was the exact opposite."Oxford did not appear out of place either physically or technically and his stature really caught the eye of Quinn, who predicted the midfielder will be around in the Premier League for many years to come. "He's got a great build, his physique is good and his mobility is very good, he handled the ball really well, he knew when to drop back and make a fifth defender," Quinn added. "He was a perfect player for his manager today and to do that at 16 years of age is just incredible. I'm really pleased for the lad and I'm sure all his mentors all the way up, and his family as well, they're pinching themselves as well.
"They can be very proud of him and we'll be hearing about him for a long time to come."

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Arsenal 0-2 West Ham: Talking points from the Emirates
By Peter Smith
Last Updated: 09/08/15 5:34pm
SSN

West Ham shocked London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates 2-0 on Sunday – and delivered an early blow to the Gunners' Premier League title ambitions. Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate were on the scoresheet for Slaven Bilic's side, while youngster Reece Oxford and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech experienced very different debuts.
Here we pick out the talking points from the match…

Reece Oxford

At 16 years and 236 days, Reece Oxford became West Ham's youngest-ever Premier League player on Sunday. However, his performance belied his years. "He's been phenomenal. A star is born," Sky Sports co-commentator Niall Quinn said. "He's been mature, he's ordering people around. It's unbelievable to see. He's mobile, he gets around and he knows the game. He's a natural." Sitting in front of the West Ham defence, much of Oxford's best work was done without the ball at his feet. Only Diafra Sakho had touched the ball fewer times than Oxford (33) when he was substituted on 79 minutes - but no West Ham player had made more tackles (three) or interceptions (three) than the England U17 captain. Oxford was economical with the ball, too. He regained possession four times and lost it just once, while all but one of his 21 passes found their target – the best pass completion rate of any player on the pitch. "It was a dream debut," Oxford told Sky Sports. "It's an honour to play for West Ham and to be the youngest."

Cech's mistakes

"It's a day to forget for Petr Cech." That was the assessment of Quinn after watching Arsenal's £10m summer signing make errors for both West Ham goals. Prior to kick-off, Cech had the best saves-to-shots ratio of any goalkeeper to have made at least 50 saves in the Premier League over the past three seasons (78 per cent). However, the former Chelsea shot-stopper looked anything but the assured presence between the sticks Arsenal fans had hoped for when he wildly rushed out to try to punch Dimitri Payet's free-kick midway through the first half. Cech was nowhere near goal-scorer Kouyate when he glanced the ball home. "Cech comes flying out and he's got to do better," said Jamie Carragher in the Sky Sports studio. "If you come out like that you have to take everything."

Things got worse for Cech after the break when he was wrong-footed by Mauro Zarate's speculative shot from the edge of the box. Chelsea captain John Terry said Cech could be worth 12-15 points to Arsenal this season. It could be suggested the goalkeeper is currently standing on at least -1 at the moment.


New season, same problems for Arsenal?

This is supposed to be Arsenal's season, the year the back-to-back FA Cup winners deliver the consistency and quality needed to win the Premier League. However, against West Ham, there must surely have been an all-too-familiar feel of frustration and disappointment among Arsenal fans. Once again, Arsenal were exposed from a set-piece. West Ham scored 15 headed goals in 2014/15, second only to West Brom (16), while Arsenal conceded the highest proportion of goals to headers (36 per cent). New season, same story. This time it was Kouyate who profited from Arsenal's poor aerial defence. "Nacho Monreal was the wrong side of Kouyate – and as a defender you'd never want to be in that position," Carragher said, while Graeme Souness was critical of Arsenal's defensive line being too high. "The players were talking about doing different things this season," added Carragher, "but isn't that [defending] a recurring theme for the Arsenal players?"
Just two wins in Arsenal's first eight games last season proved costly come the end of the campaign, and Arsene Wenger's side could be in danger of once again damaging their title challenge before it gets going. A tough trip to Crystal Palace – fresh from a 3-1 win at Norwich – followed by a Monday Night Football encounter with Liverpool are next up for Arsenal. Wenger will be hoping his team click into gear for those encounters, or they'll once again be facing an uphill battle. Only one club has lost their first game of a Premier League season and gone on to win the title, though: Manchester United in 1992/93, 1995/96 and 2012/13.

Bilic's boys deliver

"I don't know where this season is going to bring us," Slaven Bilic told Sky Sports ahead of kick-off. "We are going to try to play good football, try to be solid as a unit." It's safe to say the West Ham boss' team delivered on both counts at Arsenal on Sunday. "West Ham had a gameplan and they were fabulous today," said Souness. "If they can play like that every time they go away from home they'll win lots of games. If those boys play with the same determination and enthusiasm, they'll cause lots of people problems. They were very, very impressive today." Carragher was equally impressed. "They had things you don't associate with West Ham in away games," he said. "They were solid at the back, didn't look like conceding and had power and pace on the counter-attack, which is vital."

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ARSENAL 0, WEST HAM 2. WELL THAT WAS REFRESHING!
By David Hautzig 9 Aug 2015 at 17:15
West Ham Till I Die

I'm sure a political metaphor is not what you were expecting to start the new season. Campaign probably a better word, I guess. And I'm expecting a bit of stick.

Fine. I can deal with that.

George W. Bush wasn't a popular figure in my neck of the woods. He didn't have too many fans in the UK, either. I recall the headline in The Mirror when he was re-elected. "How can 59 million people be so dumb". Harsh, but I saw similar sentiment four years later when W was done. Someone I know said, "I didn't realize how depressed I've been the past 8 years". Managing a football club is obviously a far less serious manner than running my country. But as I awaited the kickoff today at The Emirates, I came in with a feeling of hope and curiosity. As opposed to simple resignation to not only the outcome but also the events that would lead to it. That was exemplified an hour before kickoff when the rumours that Reece Oxford would start became a fact. Add Zarate to the mix and at least we could fantasize about our beloved club for a bit. I didn't expect to win. I halfway expected a thrashing.

What a thrilling shock to our system.

The first touch of a professional career normally isn't something we pay attention to. But seconds into the match, Reece Oxford…who is younger than half of my t-shirts…comfortable chested the ball down to Reid. Moments later, Tomkins made a run down the left, fed Kouyate, who then tried to cross to Sakho but it went out for a corner. If we had scored, we might have credited the kid with an assist just because.

Mark Noble is often criticized for picking up silly fouls in dangerous areas after losing the ball. In the 5th minute, Noble became the first of many players on both sides to go slip slidin' away on the Emirates pitch and then, trying to regain possession, fouled Coquelin and was shown a yellow card. Minutes later, newcomer Ogbonna made a similar challenge on Oxlade-Chamberlain just outside the West Ham penalty area and was also booked. Two minutes. Two yellows. The resulting free kick went out for a corner, which then came to Debuchy but his header went over the bar.

The first real chance for either side came in the 11th minute when Reid attempted to clear a cross from the left. It went straight to Oxlade-Chamberlain, but his 25 yard volley went over the bar.

The change in leadership to Slaven Bilic is exemplified by the signing of Dimitri Payet. There was no way on God's Green Earth a creative midfielder of Payet's quality would have signed for our previous manager. In the 19th minute, Payet showed why he might be the most important signing of the Gold & Sullivan era. The ball was played down the left for Payet to run onto. It was a bit long, but Payet not only saved it from going out for a goal kick but also used a cheeky little header to set himself for a cross to Sakho. The pass missed its target, but the message was clear. Payet can, and will, hurt the opposition when they think they are in the clear.

Mauro Zarate creates two, and only two, reactions from West Ham supporters. Frustration and Euphoria. In the 26th minute, Frustrating Zarate lost the ball to Coquelin, who quickly delivered a cross into the box for Giroud. The Frenchman controlled the ball with his chest, but his shot was blocked by Ogbonna. Two minutes later Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the ball in his own half and started a steamrolling run into the West Ham area. He eventually found Cazorla with a cross, but his shot went over the bar. Moments later, the ball dropped kindly for Ramsey but his shot deflected off Cresswell and out for a corner.

West Ham went on the front foot in the 36th minute when Payet embarked on a great run, beat two Arsenal defenders before his shot was deflected out for a corner. From a strategic standpoint, the corner was interesting in that it was played back for Zarate to run onto and shoot. From a result standpoint, it was Frustrating Zarate again as his shot went wide. West Ham endured more frustration minutes later when Tomkins was shown the Hammers third yellow for bringing down Monreal.

Have I mentioned that Payet is a great signing? I did? Good. Because he is.

In the 43rd minute, West Ham won a free kick when Noble was brought down in midfield. Up stepped Payet to send a perfect ball into the charging line, and Kouyate guided it past the diving Cech and into the back of the net. Yes, Cech made an error. And maybe if this had been against Chelsea with Cech and his back line being more familiar with each other, the result may have been different. But to take anything away from either the delivery or the finish would be juvenile.

Or Sky Sports. Same thing.

Halftime. Arsenal 0, West Ham 1.

I, for one, would not like to be the one that causes Diafra Sakho consternation. His eyes get this look that sharks get before they strike. Frustrating Zarate could have been on the end of such an attack in the 51st minute when he charged at the Arsenal defense at the top of the box. With Sakho screaming for the ball on the right, Frustrating Zarate tried to do it all by himself, and ended up doing nothing but lose the ball. Sakho punched the air in fury, and Twitter went bananas attacking Zarate's selfishness.

The next few minutes were The Olivier Giroud Show. In the 52nd minute, Giroud sent a cross into the box that Adrian mishandled. But there wasn't a Gunner in sight and our cult hero in neon green gathered the ball. Moments later Giroud met an Ozil cross but sent his shot into the side netting. Then, with tons of time and space, Giroud rushed a shot that took a slight deflection off Ogbanna and into the arms of Adrian.

In the 57th minute Zarate was substituted for Zarate. That is, Frustrating Zarate left the and Euphoric Zarate took his place. After taking the ball off of Oxlade-Chamberlain near the top of the box, he made a slight touch and fired. Cech expected the ball to his left, but instead Euphoric Zarate sent the ball low and into near corner.

Arsenal 0, West Ham 2.

When Jarvis came on for Zarate in the 62nd minute, I was surprised. It didn't help that a minute later a silly challenge from Jarvis gave Arsenal a free kick from a dangerous area. Cazorla's free kick did find Giroud, but his header had no pace and was right at Adrian.

In the 67th minute, West Ham supporters worldwide groaned to see Alexis Sanchez come on for Debuchy. The script was being set up for West Ham pain. And for a few minutes, Arsenal applied the kind of pressure that usually ends in a goal when playing us. Walcott, a longtime West Ham nemesis, made a run down the right to win a corner. But instead of West Ham making a mistake or committing a foul, it was Sanchez whistled for holding Tomkins. Arsenal came again, only for Reid to clear.

The 74th minute was genuinely frightening for a moment when Giroud and Tomkins clashed heads. It looked like Giroud was knocked cold, especially when he was rolled on his side, presumably to save him from swallowing his tongue. Yet despite what we've all read about concussion protocol, both were back on the pitch in a few minutes.

The final ten minutes plus stoppage time were going to be nervy enough. Seeing Kevin Nolan come on didn't help matters. But moments after coming on, Nolan started a counter attack that had ball movement and interplay to make any supporter in the world proud. It ended with Sakho tackled in the box and a save by Cech. Arsenal came right back down with the ball eventually coming to Oxlade-Chamberlain. However his shot hit the side netting.

Instead of just lofting the ball as far as possible in the final minutes of a game, West Ham played football. Payet led a counter and got the ball near the corner flag. Then Sakho ran the length of the pitch, gathered the ball by the same corner flag, and sent Noble running freely along the touchline. Arsenal had a few chances in injury time, but none that caused any of us to have palpitations.

Final Score. Arsenal 0, West Ham 2.

As I have done every year since the web made it easy, I spent some free time on the days leading up to every season reading previews and predictions. Along with two prognosticators sending us down, many others said "they were worried for West Ham". Richard Keys and Andy Gray on their new network BeIN Sports (who have also employed Big Sam), Robbie's Mustoe and Earle over here on NBC. Considering that I wrote down Arsenal when asked who will win the league, I wasn't expecting much. But I thought, or maybe just hoped, that the team under Bilic would at least give me a reason to pay attention for all 90 minutes.

Instead, I got the most refreshing and enjoyable West Ham experience in many years.

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Sport Football West Ham United FC
"He's got everything" - Slaven Bilic hails West Ham teenager Reece Oxford after fine display at Arsenal
0 COMMENTS18:32, 9 AUGUST 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
"He is still a risk, still 16. He's definitely going to be a big player," said Bilic as his side enjoyed an excellent 2-0 win at the Emirateas
The Mirror

Slaven Bilic masterminded a famous West Ham victory - and then paid a glowing tribute to teenage whizz kid Reece Oxford. Hammers manager Bilic showed remarkable faith in playing 16-year-old centre half Oxford in midfield to try to shut down Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had the chance to sign Oxford last season before the England under-17 international committed himself to a new contract at West Ham in January. Bilic's tactical gamble worked a treat and TV pundit Graeme Souness hailed Oxford's performance by saying: "For a 16-year-old it borders on the ridiculous." Bilic said: "The boy has got everything. Everything. Let's be fair. Ozil had his moments or Cazorla or Ramsey are world class players. It's not easy to minimise their game because they're world class players. "He's 16 and that is his only disadvantage. We are a little short in that position and I wanted someone to sit in front of the centre half. He has a presence, he's mobile and quick and he can turn and pass the ball, not just square balls. We have others around making it a lot easier for him.
"He's also a very cool guy. Not fazed or impressed. I tried to help him. We've been preparing him for this for the last two weeks. But the biggest help apart from his ability coolness and quality physical, and technical were the boys around him. "He is still a risk, still 16. He's definitely going to be a big player. As he's 16 he's going to have ups and downs. We have to manage him now not only on the pitch but off it too."

Bilic could not have wished for his first game in the Premier League to have gone any better and believes it has set a great tone for his reign. "It's a great result for us and a great performance," said Bilic. "You know what it's like when you come here for the first game of the season. The players can say a lot but it's the proof we're doing alright and the players believe. "And if you have a London derby against a team that is one of the biggest title contenders, a team that we lost last nine games home or away. For 10 years we didn't win here. "It sums up a proud moment for the whole club and especially for the fans. We're happy but it's only a start. It gives us a wonderful direction."

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Slav turns eight Sam flops into superstars
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 9, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Miracles do happen if you have the right man in charge. And one thing that seems to have passed many by is that this afternoon at the Emirates is that eight of the team which performed so badly at the end of last season were again involved in what was nothing short of a stupendous victory. Only Angel Ogbonna, Dimitri Payet and 16 year old Reece Oxford had not seen action in a West Ham shirt before today – the rest were Sam Allardyce players who could only manage three wins from the final 21 games last season. Yet today – against an Arsenal team costing millions and millions, these same players, who by and large had been told to get it forward quickly – which is a polite way of saying 'lump it' – produced a style of football which gains nationwide approval. There's been a lot of negative stuff doing the rounds on social media this summer – myths perpetrated by people who should know better I've honestly never paid much attention to pre-season and today showed again how daft it is to judge a season on what happens before it begins. It also showed that those moaning about the squad being weak – can under the right manager, playing the right way, – take on a new dimension. That's what happened at the Emirates today and let's remember that the new boss has had just two months with a squad that was split between Ireland and the mainland for a long while. If such a transformation can take place in such a short space of time what will happen when the team really "get it."
Happy days really are here again – the West Ham Way is back. We have proper Boleyn boys in charge of our great club and with one or two additions we can become a formidable club under Slaven Bilic.

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Sullivan: "The manager was proved right"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 9, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

David Sullivan is never going to be a man to get carried away but his Emirates joy was clear for all to see as the Hammers scored their magical win over Arsenal this afternoon.

Manager Slaven Bilic master-minded the amazing win as the bookies' 10/1 outsiders equalled Arsene Wenger's team all over the pitch before crushing them with a well deserved win.

And after the events of last Thursday evening when the new boss had made the critical decision to play a shadow squad in Romania, the pressure was really on.

However, it all paid off in diamonds and the co chairman in an exclusive comment to ClaretandHugh was extremely happy with what he had seen,

He told us: Its early days, but it's a really fantastic win and I think it proves that the manager was fully justified in his team selection on Thursday."

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Hammers speak on Berbatov
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 9, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham will not be making a move for Dimitar Berbatov. Morning newspaper reports suggested that the former Manchester United and Spurs striker was being offered to the Hammers by agents. The 34 year was seen as a short term cover player given the injuries suffered by West Ham strikers but the club made it clear to ClaretandHugh "we won't be moving in that direction." A top level source told us: "He as discussed earlier in the summer and we took opinions on board but he doesn't fit our age or fitness profile."

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Slav so proud of the team and Reece Oxford
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 9, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Proud Slaven Bilic gave a piercing insight into his personality as he spoke about Reece Oxford following the game.

He explained: "I told him that any mistakes he made were my fault! We advise him all we can – the players, coaches, me, everybody. He's a cool guy and hides his feelings.

"He did brilliantly and I am very proud of him. I thought for this kind of game he was an ideal player to sit in front of the back four and he did the job very well.

"He tries to hide his feelings but we are all there for him and he did a great job for us today – he too hould be very proud."

Discussing the way forward he added: "It was just a start. Yes we beat a team that is fancied for honours but it's about how you finish, not how you start.

"It was a big London derby and important in its own right for that reason and our record against them is bad so it's a special win and I feel very proud."

He explained that he hadn't been happy with the first half performance adding: "We didn't deserve to be in the lead. They had chances and dominated but the second half was different.

"We had a good shape and got the second goal. That was excellent. But we can't play again as we did in the first half. We were slow and not really on it.

" I knew we had that sort of performance in us and we can go on from that. If we can get some luck staying away fro injuries we will be fine. I'm optimistic."

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Leroy turns the air Claret and BLUE!!!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 9, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

I have know Leroy Rosenior for many years but I have never heard him so excited, thrilled and using the f word so regularly as a few minutes ago.

Within seconds of the final whistle blowing the ClaretandHugh analyst was on the phone shouting: "That was f…..g incredible …what an effing performance…every man was given a job to do and did it to effing perfection.

"Thrilled…you bet I'm effing thrilled. The boys were magnificent and to get that performance from them so soon after arriving is a tribute to Slaven Bilic . He has transformed the team already.

God knows where we are gonna end up because if that was the start can you imagine where we are going.

"Reece Oxford was incredible and telling the captain to get in behind him as he moved forward. At 16, at bloody 16 – the kid's gonna be a monster player.

Payet is brilliant, and Winston Reid was superb but to be honest all the credit goes to Slaven Bilic – to get a performance like that from the Irons after last week was miraculous.

Trust me the man is going to go down as one of the great Hammers manager.

"Amazing – I can't wait to see them again. Fabulous."

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MAGNIFICENT IRONS
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 9, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Arsenal 0 West Ham 2

Nearly lost for words …but not quite

After listening to all the negativity over the past week I am thrilled that Super Slav has shut everybody up with a performance from his team as good as any of us can remember for a very long time.

And it was summed up afterwards by Winston Reid who handed the credit to the manager declaring: "He set out a brilliant game plan and we followed it.

"We had some luck and Adrian made some great saves. We did well but I believe we can get a lot better."

Young Reece Oxford produced a performance well in advance of his 16 years and said; "Angelo (Ogbonna) was encouraging me from behind through the game.

"I found out yesterday evening I was in the team . It's such an honour to be the youngest to play for the club in the Premier League."

The Hammers were utterly MAGNIFICENT all over the pitch, doing exactly what Slav had demanded before the game – defending as a unit and moving forward together. Dimi Payet was outstanding.

He produced the first goal for Cheik Kouyate from a free kick and was always looking to create. Winston Reid was cool and calm giving a masterly defensive performance and in Angelo Ogbonna has a partner to die for.

But it would be wrong to single anyone out really. This was incredible and as Reid says:"It can only get better."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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Daily WHUFC News - Arsenal v West Ham

Preview - Arsenal
WHUFC.com

The background

The wait is almost over. The new Barclays Premier League season gets
underway for West Ham United on Sunday when they travel to London rivals
Arsenal for a lunchtime kick-off.

Slaven Bilic's first league game in charge of the Hammers could hardly have
been tougher, as last season's FA Cup winners look to get their own season
off to a good start at the Emirates Stadum.

The Gunners came third in the league last season, earning them direct entry
to the UEFA Champions League group stages, and they have already won
silverware this term, defeating Chelsea 1-0 in last Sunday's Community
Shield at Wembley.

West Ham, in their third season back in the top flight, came 12th last term
and have added several players to their squad as they aim to take a step
forward in their final Boleyn Ground season.

The Hammers will go into Sunday's game as outsiders, but they will hope to
upset the odds with Arsenal possessing a mixed opening day record in recent
years.

The history

Sunday's game is the 132nd meeting between Arsenal and West Ham, with the
Gunners having history on their side. They have won 60 of those games, with
the Hammers triumphing on 33 occasions~

In recent times, West Ham have struggled against the north Londoners, not
tasting victory against them in 15 attempts. The last success came back in
April 2007 when Bobby Zamora's goal meant West Ham became the first team to
win at Emirates Stadium.

Last season the Gunners won 3-0 in north London, with goals in the final ten
minutes from Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini sealing victory after Olivier
Giroud struck on the stroke of half time

At the Boleyn Ground, Cheikhou Kouyate scored for West Ham, but Santi
Cazorla and Danny Welbeck secured a 2-1 win for Wenger's side.

Match info

Team news

West Ham United

The Hammers could hand Premier League debuts to the likes of Dimitri Payet
and Angelo Ogbonna at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Fellow summer arrival Pedro Obiang could also be involved after returning to
training this week, while Winston Reid will also hope to be available after
suffering a hamstring injury in pre-season.
Enner Valencia (lower leg) and Andy Carroll (knee) are definitely out, while
Carl Jenkinson is ineligible against his parent club.
Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez will not be considered for selection after returning late
from Chile's successful Copa America campaign this summer.
Jack WIlshere, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck are all ruled out with
injury, but Petr Cech should make his Premier League debut for his new club
after making the move from Chelsea.
Match facts

Arsenal have won their last ten league and cup meetings with the Hammers.
West Ham did the double over Arsenal in the 2006/07 season, but have since
found success against the Gunners had to come by, drawing two and winning
none of the next 15 clashes
Arsenal have won only one of their last five opening day Premier League
fixtures.
Summer signing Dimitri Payet made 135 chances for Marseille last season -
the highest figure in the top five European leagues.
Betting

Our principal sponsors Betway make us 8/1 shots to win at Arsenal on Sunday.
Check out their full betting preview here.
Coverage, tickets, travel and weather info

The match is live on Sky Sports in the UK, while we will be on hand at
Emirates Stadium with live updates and audio commentary on whufc.com and
exclusive behind the scenes content on our social media channels.
Tickets for this game have SOLD OUT.
Supporters planning on using the Victoria line to reach Emirates Stadium
should note that it will be closed between Walthamstow Central and Seven
Sisters. London Overground services will not be running between Stratford
and Hackney Wick, and supporters travelling from east London are advised to
use the Hammersmith & City line to King's Cross, changing to use National
Rail services to Finsbury Park. Click here for detailed travel advice.
Sunday is set to be a fine summer's day, with temperatures reaching 25C
(75F) and sunny intervals predicted at kick-off.

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Slaven speaks - Arsenal
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic says a confident West Ham United will travel to Arsenal to
kick-off the 2015/16 Barclays Premier League season. The Hammers make the
short trip to the Emirates on the back of a midweek UEFA Europa League exit
in Romania, but the manager says that disappointment will not be allowed to
affect their preparations to face the Gunners. In a wide-ranging press
conference, Bilic also revealed that Andy Carroll could be back in
first-team action by the end of August and that the potential signing of
Mexico international striker Raul Jimenez is 'close'...

Slaven, can we start with team news for Sunday's trip to Arsenal?

SB: "Valencia has a major injury but it could be worse. The predictions are
that he is out for ten to 12 weeks, but hopefully it's going to be nine! We
have a few more small ones apart from him but we will see in training.

"We are going to roll out a good team and we are ready for the beginning of
the Premier League."

What is the situation with the potential signing of Raul Jimenez from
Atletico Madrid?

SB: "Jimenez is close, but it is not done. We hope to get it done today or
tomorrow, but anyway he would not be ready for the squad for Sunday's game.

"It would be good for us to get a player as soon as possible, considering we
need players in some positions. Jimenez is a striker and that would be it
then. I would be happy.

"The situation with Valencia means we might need more players but
considering that Andy Carroll is doing really well and he will be joining
the team in terms of training really soon, I would be happy with the
addition of one striker.

"As I said, Andy is working well and last week he was doing a lot of
individual stuff and everything without any problems. The injury is gone now
and now we have just to bring him back slowly but as quickly as possible
without any risk to training to get the fitness, first of all.

"It's totally different to training by yourself because you are training
with tackles and not controlling the environment. It's not only up to you
but the others as well.

"The target the medical department tell me is for Liverpool or Newcastle
which is the fourth and fifth game of the season."

Will you seek to bring in any more players, or are you happy with what you
have got?

SB: "I'm pretty happy. Some players may leave the club and a few players
have left already. We are concentrating on one striker and maybe one more
player in midfield and that should be it."
I would like us to play good football and to win games, which is easy to say
now before the first game

Are you looking forward to your first game as a Premier League manager?

SB: "Of course I am. I'm excited. I know from when I was here before and
have played against English teams in European competition and they all say
the Premier League is different and is the hardest league. I'm looking
forward to it"

"As I said, I'm ready and the team is ready and we're going to see on Sunday
how it starts.

What would constitute a successful season for West Ham United?

SB: "I would like us to play good football and to win games, which is easy
to say now before the first game. Let's say our aim is to be mid-table. Our
aim is to be as high as possible and I would say a top ten finish would be a
major success."

How will you approach Arsenal? Have you seen them play in pre-season?

SB: "First of all Arsenal are a big team, a big club and they have been
doing well and have won a trophy (the Community Shield) already, which is
always good. It's nice to win it.

"I went to see them live against Wolfsburg in the Emirates Cup. They are the
same Arsenal and they like to have the ball and keep the ball. They are very
versatile and are also the quickest team in the league and are the best on
breaks. When you lose the ball, they are very dangerous to you.

"Against Wolfsburg and against Chelsea, particularly, they improved
defensively in terms of as a unit. They are on a high and are full of
confidence but we are starting, we are very confident we can go there and
play good football and get something out of the game."

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Joint-Chairman: We are ready to close the gap
Whufc.COM

West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Gold is excited by the prospect of
facing Arsenal in the opening Premier League game and feels the time has
come for the Club to start closing the gap on the top four. With Slaven
Bilic taking charge of the Hammers during the summer and a number of new
players arriving at the Boleyn Ground, Mr Gold believes the Club can have
another successful season in the top flight.
West Ham United fans showed their amazing support once again during the
Europa League Qualifiers and with the move to the new Stadium next summer,
Mr Gold sees no reason why the Hammers cannot compete with the big teams in
England. Gold said: "I am always excited by the beginning of the season and
this is no different. It could not be more difficult than going to Arsenal
but I think we are ready. I am confident we are going to have an exciting
season. "Arsenal are a top four football club and have been so for many
years, We are getting closer and closer and they will be looking over their
shoulders. Our ambition is to make the top four worried. With us moving to
the new Stadium I am sure that is going to be the case. "We have got a
fantastic fan base and that is the key. The numbers have been proven and we
had 100,000 fans coming to see the Europa League Qualifiers and that is
unheard of. "Slaven will be coming up against Arsene Wenger and from that
point of view you could not ask for a better game. It would be great if he
could upset the odds and get a result there."

New summer signing Dimitri Payet is expected to make his Premier League
debut at the Emirates Stadium and Mr Gold believes he could become one of
the major stars in the top flight this season. Gold added: "I am very
excited and we have brought in a top quality player. That shows our intent
and it shows the top players want to play here. We are an ambitious football
club with an ambitious manager."

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Arsenal v West Ham
KO 13:30
7 August 2015
Last updated at 13:46

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Sunday, 9 August

TEAM NEWS

Petr Cech is set to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal but Jack
Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck are ruled out with injuries.
Alexis Sanchez will not feature as he regains fitness following an extended
break after the Copa America, although he could return on 24 August.
West Ham strikers Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll are both unavailable
because of injuries. Loanee Carl Jenkinson is ineligible to face his parent
club. Pedro Obiang, Winston Reid and Matt Jarvis returned to training this
week after minor injury problems and could be involved.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Steve Wilson: "For older West Ham fans this might stir memories of 1980 and
Sir Trev's header at a sunny Wembley which saw off Arsenal and won the FA
Cup for John Lyall's second-tier team.
"For anyone with shorter memories it's mostly just a succession of Arsenal
victories; in league and cup the last 10 encounters have all been won by the
Gunners. "If Slaven Bilic can open his league account by ending that
sequence then West Ham's poor, blink-and-you-missed-it Europa League
qualifying campaign will be forgiven. "If Arsenal don't win then all that
optimism engendered by the Community Shield victory over Chelsea will pop as
quickly as one of those east London bubbles."

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We won the FA Cup last year and we finished
third in the Premier League so our target is very high. "Our ambition is to
win the Premier League but we have to sustain that by performance and
fighting spirit in every single game. "Before we suffered sometimes from the
fact that at the start of the season nobody considered us at all because we
lost our best players. That period is over now so we are happy to be under
this kind of pressure."

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "We have a big season ahead of us which
starts on Sunday. We are going to be good in the Premier League. I am very
confident about that." Arsenal have been shown six red cards in their
opening Premier League fixture - more than any other side.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Arsenal have won their last 10 league and cup games against West Ham,
including nine Premier League matches.
The Hammers did the double over the Gunners in 2006-07 but since then are
winless in 15 league and cup games (D2, L13) against them.

Arsenal
The Gunners have lost their opening Premier League game just once in the
last 14 seasons (W9, D4) - a 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa in 2013.
However, they have begun with a victory just once in the past five years,
albeit against Crystal Palace last term.
Arsenal have failed to score in three of their last four home league games.
Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in five top-flight games against West
Ham, while Theo Walcott has also scored five times against the Hammers.

West Ham United
The Hammers have lost nine times on the opening weekend of a Premier League
season - more than any other club.
They won nine of their first 17 Premier League games last season, but just
three of the subsequent 21.
West Ham are winless in 12 Premier League away games (D5, L7) since a 2-1
victory at West Brom on 2 December 2014.
Dimitri Payet, who has joined from Marseille, created 135 chances in 2014-15
- the highest figure in the top five European leagues.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tactically speaking - Arsenal
WHUFC.com

Sunday's trip to the Emirates Stadium is one which West Ham United could be
forgiven for making full of trepidation.

The Hammers have not beaten Arsenal on home soil since becoming the first
opposition club to do so back in April 2007, when Bobby Zamora's lobbed
winner and Robert Green's heroics secured a shock 1-0 success.

Victory for Slaven Bilic's side on his first Barclays Premier League match
in charge would be something approaching as big a surprise as that win was
eight years ago, especially considering Arsenal showed good form in winning
the Community Shield last weekend.

So, how will each club approach their Sunday lunchtime clash in north
London?
Arsenal
Arsenal's approach to their football under Arsene Wenger is well-known the
world over - pass, move, pass, move, score.

What has been added to that mantra is a steel and solidity that has helped
the Gunners emerge as real Barclays Premier League title contenders this
season.

Arsenal finished third last season, conceding just 36 goals in 38 league
matches. With Petr Cech joining from Chelsea this summer, Wenger's side
looks even stronger in defence.

With attacking threats provided from all over the pitch, devastating pace on
the counter-attack, and the ability to keep the ball and pass their
opponents into submission still very much there, Arsenal look to be a
formidable outfit.

Formation-wise, the Gunners are likely to adopt a 4-4-1-1 system against
West Ham, but who will play as the centre forward remains to be seen.
Olivier Giroud is an all-round striker who has five goals in five games
against West Ham, while the speedy Theo Walcott could look to continue his
own fine record against the Hammers if he is selected in the same position
he occupied against Chelsea at Wembley.

Behind the centre forward, Arsenal's three attacking midfielders are vital
to their success. Against Chelsea, match-winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and
Germany international Mesut Ozil played alongside Spanish playmaker Santi
Cazorla.

Of the three, Oxlade-Chamberlain is more of an old-fashioned winger, with
the strength, pace and skill to beat his full-back on the outside, but with
the added weapon of being able to cut inside onto his left foot.

Ozil is a passer who will play behind the centre forward and drift inside
from the left channel, picking through balls and making clever runs between
the lines.

Cazorla will nominally start on the left wing, but the dimuntive player will
pop up all over the pitch. Elusive and two-footed, Cazorla combines well
with Ozil.

Behind them, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey sit in front of the back
four, collecting the ball from the centre-backs when in possession and
pressing the opposition when out of it.

Defensively, Arsenal always employ attacking full-backs and that remains the
case with young Frenchman Hector Bellerin on the right and Spaniard Nacho
Monreal on the left. Both are quick, athletic, but can leave space in behind
for the opposition to exploit.

In the middle, tall German Per Mertesacker and Frenchman Laurent Koscielny
have developed a good partnership. Mertesacker is a dominant stopper, while
Koscielny has pace and ability on the ball.

Possible team: (4-4-1-1) Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal,
Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud

West Ham United
West Ham United have teamed up with football stats website WhoScored.com to
preview Sunday's Barclays Premier League opener with Arsenal.

West Ham will have played six competitive UEFA Europa League games before
Sunday's London derby comes around and Slaven Bilic will hope his team are
fit and ready to spring out of the blocks at the Emirates Stadium.

One player who is expected to be key for Bilic's side against Arsenal is
summer arrival Dimitri Payet. West Ham signalled their intention to better
last season's 12th-placed finish with the capture of the Frenchman, who
enjoyed a hugely successful campaign for former side Marseille last term.

The 28-year-old gained a WhoScored.com rating of 7.62 in France's top tier
last season, a figure only three players bettered. As a result, his
performances gained him a place in WhoScored.com's Ligue 1 team of the
season, with his 17 league assists contributing to that.

Following Stewart Downing's move to Middlesbrough, Payet will be expected to
undertake the role of creator-in-chief for the east London team and if he
and the West Ham frontmen can strike up an instant understanding, the
results could be devastating. Payet setting up former L'OM teammate
Andre-Pierre Gignac was the most prolific assist to goalscorer combination
in Ligue 1 last season, laying on six of the latter's goals.

Boasting a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'key passes' -
he completed 134 of them last season - Payet has the vision and creative
capability to unlock any defence and Bilic needs this facet of the
Frenchman's game to be prevalent in north London on Sunday.

Payet was one of the headline grabbing signings in the Premier League this
summer, and with 17 assists, seven goals and a 79.4 per cent pass-completion
percentage last season, that should come as little surprise to anyone.

Now, the challenge is for the No27 to replicate that devastating form in the
Barclays Premier League.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold: Arsenal 'looking over their shoulders'
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 8th August 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham co-owner David Gold believes Arsenal will be "looking over their
shoulders" at West Ham this season. The septuagenarian, who has been in
joint control of the club since 2010 insisted that Slaven Bilic's side have
enough about them this season to threaten not only Arsenal, but the Premier
League's elite. "Arsenal are a top four football club and have been so for
many years," he told the club's website. "We are getting closer and closer
and they will be looking over their shoulders. "Our ambition is to make the
top four worried. With us moving to the new Stadium I am sure that is going
to be the case. "We have got a fantastic fan base and that is the key. The
numbers have been proven and we had 100,000 fans coming to see the Europa
League Qualifiers, which that is unheard of. ""I am always excited by the
beginning of the season and this is no different. It could not be more
difficult than going to Arsenal but I think we are ready. I am confident we
are going to have an exciting season."

However as one eagle-eyed KUMB member pointed out, Gold has a little history
for making bold claims ahead of the start of a new campaign.
For back in 2005/06, he made similar comments when still owner of Birmingham
City. "It's time to shrug off that fear of relegation and start talking
about being as good as anyone outside the top three or four," he said.
Birmingham City were relegated at the end of that season - which, like West
Ham, happened to be their fourth consecutive season in the top flight.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic planning payback on former mentor Arsene Wenger
in Emirates opener
22:30, 7 AUGUST 2015
BY MIKE WALTERS
New Hammers chief spent a week monitoring Arsene Wenger in 2001 while taking
his Pro Licence coaching badges and now wants to inflict defeat
The mirror

Slaven Bilic will thank Arsene Wenger for helping him set out on the road to
management - by trying to catch Arsenal loitering in the blocks again. New
West Ham boss Bilic spent a week monitoring Le Professeur at work in 2001,
when he was taking his Pro Licence coaching badges. The former Croatian
national manager , who left Steve McClaren to face a nation's wrath in 2007,
has kept in touch with Wenger since he watched the Gunners training 14 years
ago. But at his first game as a Premier League manager, Bilic is planning a
spectacular payback at the Emirates on Sunday - when he hopes to inflict
another shattering opening-day defeat on Arsenal Two years ago, the Gunners
were ambushed 3-1 by Aston Villa on the first day of term, and Bilic - on a
spying mission ahead of a Champion s League meeting with Wenger - says they
were lucky to beat Crystal Palace for starters 12 months ago. The Hammers
boss, who could include 16-year-old defender Reece Oxford in his line-up,
said: "When I was preparing to become a coach myself, Arsene Wenger was one
of the managers I studied at work on the training field for a week. "We've
stayed in touch and, of course, I rate him very highly. Arsenal are not just
role models for us, they are an example for all clubs to copy because of
their history and the way they do things. "But sometimes, the big teams
don't start the season well. I watched Arsenal play Palace in their first
Premier League game last season, because their next game was against my
Besiktas team in a Champions League play-off, and they won 2-1 with a
last-minute goal. "I remember the game well, and Palace deserved a point.
You have to play against Arsenal some time, and you know it will be a tough
game, but like most things in life it's a matter of how you approach
it."Some people try to look at these games as a bonus, where they have
nothing to lose, and maybe we are not the favourites - but it is a great
opportunity for us to show we are good enough, and it wouldn't be the first
time." Bilic has set a nominal target of a top 10 finish for the Hammers in
their final season at Upton Park before their state-sponsored move to the
Olympic Stadium. He will also be under the scrutiny in terms of playing
style after Sam Allardyce was ditched on the altar of the so-called West Ham
way, and Bilic admitted: "Good football is important to me, but you also
need people who are ready to make sacrifices for the team.
"Every manager's heart swells when his team plays good football, but I am
also pragmatic because it's results that matter." Striker Andy Carroll could
be back before the end of the month six months after a knee ligament
operation.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham sweating on 'a few' injury worries ahead of Arsenal clash
London 24
14:54 07 August 2015 Brad Pinard

West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits he has a few injury concerns ahead of
opening Arsenal clash. The Hammers have question marks over the likes of
Winston Reid and Pedro Obiang for the Emirates battle but Bilic is hoping
they make it. "We are fit," Bilic said. "Valencia of course is badly
injured. But it could be worse. "We have a few more small issues, we will
see in training, but we will have a strong team. The Croatian left a number
of key players in London as the Hammers crashed out of the Europa League at
the hands of Astra Giurgiu but most are in line to return at the Emirates,
with loanee Carl Jenkinson unavailable against his parent club. Strikers
Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll (both knee) are definite absentees, with
Bilic ruling the roost over the remainder of his squad over the weekend.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, O'Brien, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna,
Reid, Cresswell, Hendrie, Noble, Nolan, Amalfitano, Obiang, Kouyate, Poyet,
Payet, Jarvis, Lanzini, Maiga, Zarate, Sakho.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
IFAB ANNOUNCE THE REFEREE FOR ARSENAL VS WEST HAM ON SUNDAY
2015/08/04 . by Editor . in News
redlondon.net

Martin Atkinson has been appointed as the referee for Sunday's Premier
League opening fixture against West Ham United. The Gunners will host the
Hammers at Emirates stadium in a bid to begin their challenge for title with
all three points. Apart from a 6-1 victory at Everton in 2009, Arsenal have
not made a habit of flying start on the opening day of the campaign in
recent years.
The last time Martin Atkinson was in charge of an Arsenal league match was
during the north London derby in February which saw Wenger's men succumb to
a 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arsenal vs West Ham United: Team news, kick-off time, line-up predictions
and stats for Barclays Premier League clash
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 13:05, 7 August 2015 | UPDATED: 13:05, 7 August 2015

Ahead of the opening weekend of Premier League action, Sportsmail will be
providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news,
provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information
you need for Arsenal's home clash with West Ham.

Arsenal vs West Ham United (Emirates Stadium)
Team news
Arsenal
Jack Wilshere will miss Arsenal's Barclays Premier League opener against
West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The England international faces
four weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hairline fracture to his left
fibula. Alexis Sanchez, who only recently returned to training after his
Copa America exploits for Chile, is also out while Danny Welbeck and Tomas
Rosicky are both unavailable through injury.

Provisional squad: Cech, Bellerin, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin,
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Ozil, Walcott, Ospina, Giroud, Gibbs,
Mertesacker, Debuchy, Ramsey, Gabriel, Flamini, Arteta.

West Ham

Arsenal vs West Ham United
Kick-off: Sunday 1.30pm - Sky Sports 1
Odds (subject to change):
Arsenal 3/10
Draw 5/1
West Ham 11/1
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Managers: Arsene Wenger (Arsenal), Slaven Bilic (West Ham)

Head-to-head league record: Arsenal wins 55, draws 32, West Ham wins 27

Key match stats (supplied by Opta)
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League fixtures on the
opening weekend, winning nine (D4).
West Ham have lost more Premier League games on the opening weekend than any
other side (9).
Arsenal have been shown more opening day red cards than any other Premier
League side (6).
The Gunners have won their last nine league encounters with West Ham and are
unbeaten in 14 (W12 D2).
The Hammers won on their last trip to Highbury in 2005/06 and on their first
trip to the Emirates in 2006/07 but have not won at Arsenal in the league
since (D1 L6).
Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in five PL appearances against West
Ham, with four of those strikes coming on home soil.
Theo Walcott has scored more top-flight goals against the Hammers than
versus any other opponent (5).
Petr Cech has posted the best saves to shots ratio (min. 50 saves) of any
goalkeeper in the Premier League over the last three seasons (78%).
Dimitri Payet created the most chances in the top five European leagues in
2014/15 (135).
West Ham scored 15 headed goals in 2014/15, second only to West Brom (16),
while Arsenal conceded the highest proportion of goals to headers (36%).

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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Daily WHUFC News - 9th August 2015

U18s fall to opening-day Fulham defeat
WHUFc.com

Debutant George Dobson drew the Hammers level at 1-1
Barclays U18 Premier League
Fulham 3-1 West Ham United

Summer signing George Dobson opened his account for West Ham United U18s,
but could not prevent the Hammers from falling to a 3-1 Barclays U18 Premier
League defeat at Fulham on Saturday. The hosts made the perfect start at
Motspur Park when Aron Davies found space to fire home after 11 minutes,
before former Arsenal midfielder Dobson levelled matters after Jahmal
Hector-Ingram had hit a post. The visitors might have completed the
turnaround midway through the half, but Joe Powell saw his spot-kick saved
by Fulham keeper Jake Soutter.
The Cottagers made the most of their reprieve after the break, with frontman
Joshua Walker and full-back Ryheem Sheckleford firing the hosts to an
opening-day win. On his West Ham debut, Dobson started alongside Matt
Carter in the heart of midfield, while Oscar Borg, Marcus Browne and Joe
Powell, all of whom featured for the Development Squad at Canvey Island on
Wednesday, supported Hector Ingram in attack. But it was the Whites who
showed first, with a goal which stemmed from a set piece. Hammers stopper
Tim Brown had initially repelled Ravin Shamsi's free-kick, but Foday Nabay
reacted quickest to whip the ball in across the face of the goal for Davies
to stab home. The Hammers, however, were not behind for long. With 19 gone,
Fulham 'keeper Soutter spilled a Hector-Ingram shot from distance onto the
woodwork, which fell to the feet of Dobson, who finished confidently to
restore parity. New boy Dobson was involved again three minutes later, this
time being upended in the box as he prepared to shoot. Powell took charge
from 12 yards but was denied by Soutter, who was smartly back to his feet to
repel Browne's follow up.West Ham carved out another fine opportunity five
minutes into the second half, when Hector-Ingram slotted through to Browne,
but Soutter was again on hand to smother. And Fulham made the Hammers pay
for their missed chances with their second of the contest on the hour mark.
Walker raced in behind the West Ham backline and slotted sweetly into the
corner. As Steve Potts' side searched for a second equaliser, Declan Rice
and Dobson both connected with Powell free-kicks, but neither could keep
their headers on target. At the other end, Fulham went desperately close to
extending their advantage. Shamsi saw his strike cannon back off the
woodwork, before Brown denied Fulham's Estonian substitute Mattias Kait on
the rebound. With just five minutes left to play, Brown was again called
into action, this time to brilliantly repel Walker's header. But the second
ball fell kindly for Sheckleford, who slammed home to consign the Hammers to
defeat. Potts' men will look to pick up their first points of the season
when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Little Heath on Saturday 15 August.
Kick-off is set for 11am.

West Ham United U18s: Brown, Sylvestre, Neufville (Pask 46), Dobson (Henry
79), Akinola, Rice, Borg, Carter (Eggleton 64), Hector-Ingram, Browne,
Powell. Subs not used: Boness, Lewis.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cresswell - We're definitely raring to go
WHUFC.com

Aaron Cresswell says West Ham United will give it everything to get their
2015/16 Barclays Premier League campaign off to a successful start on
Sunday. The Hammers make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium to face
Arsenal, with many predicting the visitors will return home with nothing to
show for their efforts. Hammer of the Year Cresswell is having none of that,
however, and says the squad are determined to get Slaven Bilic's domestic
managerial reign underway with a performance to be proud of. "It's never
going to be easy going to Arsenal, but we've been working hard over the last
six weeks and it's one we're looking forward to and we're confident going
there," said the left-back. After half-a-dozen pre-season matches and six
UEFA Europa League ties, West Ham finally get their Barclays Premier League
campaign underway this weekend, and Cresswell admitted the players have been
looking forward to their return to top-flight action. "We're definitely
raring to go," the told West Ham TV. "It was never going to be easy with the
schedule we've had, but as professionals we've just got to get on with it as
there's nothing we could do about it. "We have prepared ourselves the best
we possibly could do over the last few weeks. It's been tough at times,
playing Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, but we've adapted well to it and
hopefully it will stand us in good stead come the start of the Premier
League season."

Last year we hit the ground running with the signings that came into the
building and hopefully we can do the same this year With a new manager,
backroom staff and nine new signings through the door, Cresswell is hoping
West Ham can replicate the strong start they made last season, and avoid the
post-Christmas collapse this time around. "Last year we hit the ground
running with the signings that came into the building and hopefully we can
do the same this year," he continued. "We had a good first half to the
season last season, but the second half wasn't so good. "It we can get a
good start and take it into the Christmas period, we can kick on from there.
The main aim is to finish in the top ten. "
After signing a new long-term contract in the summer, the No3 is keen to
take his own game to the next level after a superb first season in the
Barclays Premier League. "That's in the past now and I'm looking to kick on
and improve each day on the training ground and in each game I play in,
taking each experience as it comes along," he explained. "For me, I want to
play as many games as I can and keep improving."

So, what of Arsenal, who beat Chelsea 1-0 to win the Community Shield at
Wembley last weekend thanks to a goal from the man who could be Cresswell's
direct opponent on Sunday, right winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? "It's the
Premier League and anyone can beat anyone, but we know it's not going to be
easy going there and it's not going to be a stroll in the park," Cresswell
conceded. "We're going to go there and give 110 per cent, as we will in
every game we play, and hopefully we'll get a result there. "There are
plenty of world-class players in the Premier League and everyone wants to
test themselves against the best there is out there. The top five or six
teams in the Premier League have got some of the best players in the world,
so it's good to put yourself up against them. "It is one I am personally
looking forward to and I'm sure all the other lads are as well."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Edin in the right direction
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's new first-team coach Edin Terzic cannot hide his
excitement as he prepares to start work in the Barclays Premier League. The
32-year-old arrives in England's top-flight after cutting his teeth with
German giants Borussia Dortmund, where he served as a scout and coach to the
hugely successful Jurgen Klopp, before spending the past two and a half
years working under Slaven Bilic. After stints with the Croatian national
team and Turkish club Besiktas, the UEFA 'A' Licence holder has followed
Bilic to West Ham to begin a project he hopes will bring great success to
the east London club. "We need to honour this great stadium by having a
great season," Terzic told West Ham TV, alluding to the final season at the
Boleyn Ground. "We want to improve with every game and, as a coach, I want
us to improve with every session. "We would like to leave the club in a
better condition than when we found it. That's hard, but this is what we are
here for."

So, just who is Edin Terzic and how did he become a member of Slaven Bilic's
technical staff? "I was born and grew up in Germany but my mother is
Croatian and my father is from Bosnia, so I speak Croatian and I met Slaven
a couple of years ago and I started doing some analysis work for him with
the national team," he explained. "At the time I was working as a youth
coach with the Academy of Borussia Dortmund and was also one of the scouts
for Jurgen Klopp and his team and I was looking at players. "For the last
two years I have worked with Slaven in Besiktas and for the last
two-and-a-half years overall."

As a youngster, Terzic himself harboured hopes of becoming a professional
footballer himself, playing for German lower-league clubs SG Wattenscheid,
SC Westfalia Herne and BV Cloppenburg before hanging up his boots in 2012.
When he realised he would not make it to the Bundesliga as a player, Terzic
decided to try to do so as a coach and scout. "I was very young as a coach,
so I started doing my coaching licences and studied sports science in
Germany and paid my bills and university by playing semi-professional
football," he continued.
"I studied for my UEFA 'A' Licence and met the chief scout of Borussia
Dortmund and a couple of months later he called me and offered me a job. In
2010, I stopped playing and started to be a coach with Borussia Dortmund."

During his time with Dortmund, Terzic was sent on a scouting mission to
Croatia, where he was hosted by an agent. "It was a totally strange story,"
he smiled. "I had been in Croatia on a scouting job to watch a player and
usually the scouts arecked up and given a lift to the ground. "On this
occasion the agent was very kind and we had a great dinner, but then he said
'You must meet my brother'. I was polite and said I would, but I didn't know
who his brother was! "He said he was called Domagoj Bilic and his brother
was Slaven Bilic! I didn't think about it until I was at a game in Sweden
and three days before the European Championship in 2012 I got a phone call.
I didn't respond, then I got another phone call and didn't respond. Then I
got a message 'Please call me back. Regards, Slaven Bilic' so I thought I
better call back! "I called back and that's the story of how we met each
other in 2012!"

Having joined forces with Bilic, the duo have evolved a style of play that
has seen them enjoy great success in recent years. So, what is the
philosophy of West Ham's new managerial team? "I don't want to talk about
philosophy but to show it," said Terzic, with a determination that clearly
drives him. "It's about acting and not reacting. Acting doesn't mean we want
to have 85 per cent ball possession, but we want to have the right solution
at the right moment. This is the main part of it. "I think we have a great
relationship. It's totally open, so are spending a lot of time together and
we see each other more than we see our families. We are talking about
everything on and off the pitch and we definitely understand each other and
are on the same wavelength."

With Terzic and Bilic in the dugout, West Ham United are Edin in the right
direction…

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Euro exit ended Raul Jimenez deal
KUMB,com
Filed: Saturday, 8th August 2015
By: Staff Writer

Raul Jimenez has opted against signing for West Ham - following the club's
exit from the Europa League on Thursday. The talented 24-year-old was all
set to join West Ham on loan for the season having agreed personal terms
with the club. However a report in today's Mundo Deportivo claims that
Jiminez opted to join Benfica instead after West Ham's second string were
dumped out of the Europa League by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu. Benfica
are now set to sign the Mexican international on a permanent basis, although
50 per cent of his rights will continue to be owned by his agent. Jiminez is
also thought to have been tempted by the move to Portugal having been
guaranteed first team football, which wouldn't have been the case at West
Ham.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham have gambled on Slaven Bilic, and the club is more under the
microscope than ever
22:15, 8 August 2015
OPINION BY ANDYDUNN
The Croat is undoubtedly charismatic, but he will need to do more than just
make people laugh in east London
The Mirror

The last time Slaven Bilic managed a team at the Emirates – Besiktas in a
Champions League play-off last year – he was forbidden from being in the
dugout. West Ham's season is not even a Premier League game old yet and
Bilic has already served one touchline ban. With the Football Association
­introducing a clampdown on technical area tantrums, there is every chance
Slaven will be spending more time in the posh seats this season than David
Sullivan's furry hat. He's a passionate man, you see. We've been told that
about a million times. But also a pragmatic one, it seems. The Europa League
is insulted on a regular basis by English teams but not usually BEFORE the
first whistle of our own one. Bilic preferred to send what was pretty much a
hybrid second/third team to Astra Giurgiu and West Ham's European adventure
was over before a grouse has been pelleted on British moors. Now, you won't
find a defence of the Europa League here. It is a bloated nonsense of a
competition, made even more farcical by the parachuting of Champions League
failures into the later stages.
But a competitive football match is a competitive football match. Bilic
should have found a way to win a two-legged tie against the team that
finished fourth in the Romanian league last season and didn' t. It is a
first failure on his West Ham record. Whatever way you look at it.His
rationale was to keep the vast majority of the first-team squad fresh for
the visit to Arsenal. And why not? After all, West Ham's recent history at
the Emirates is ­promising. Since a 1-0 win nine seasons ago, they have
played seven, lost six, drawn one, scored two, conceded 16. But you never
know. Law of averages, and all that. Every point scraped this season will,
of course, be vital. Just before Bilic's selection succumbed on Thursday
night, there was a BBC news special which suggested the Olympic Stadium deal
was even more peachy for West Ham than was first imagined. If that can be
possible. It is a scandal, for sure. But a scandal that lies with those in
charge of Olympic legacy not with the West Ham owners. Sullivan and David
Gold have ­negotiated the ­footballing deal of a century that still has 85
years left to run. They are extremely ­sure-footed ­businessmen. Which made
their appointment of Bilic earlier this summer a surprise. A surprise, as in
a risk. Keeping Sam Allardyce would not have been much of a risk. Going all
out for a David Moyes or a Tony Pulis would not have been much of a risk.
Bilic is. He is one of the biggest risks taken by Premier League owners in a
long while.
This will be an emotional and crucial season for West Ham. But the board
didn't want a cold, calculating, no-nonsense figure. Bilic is popular
because, well, he's a bit mad. He was a populist choice even if the reasons
for his popularity are a little opaque. His start has been erratic. He has
already overseen three red cards, in addition to his own ­indiscretion, and
his team have conceded some pretty shoddy goals. Reading too much into a
hapless summer exit from a competition so broadly sneered at in these parts
would be wrong. But one thing is for sure. If, at the time, Messrs Gold and
Sullivan didn't realise appointing Bilic for such a watershed West Ham
season was one hell of a gamble… they do now.

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est Ham offered transfer of Dimitar Berbatov as he eyes a return to the
Premier League
0 COMMENTS22:30, 8 AUGUST 2015
BY MIRROR FOOTBALL
The 34-year-old striker is clubless after being released by Monaco and his
representatives have also approached Aston Villa and Leicester
The Mirror

Dimitar Berbatov has been offered to West Ham, writes the Sunday People.
Former Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham striker Berbatov is desperate
to get back to the Premier League after French club Monaco decided not to
offer him a new deal.Representatives acting on his behalf have also alerted
Aston Villa and Leicester to the fact England is his desired destination.
And the Hammers are the latest club to be asked if they would consider a
move for the 34-year-old Bulgaria international.

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West Ham's Dimitri Payet reveals Joe Cole was driving force behind his Upton
Park move
22:30, 8 AUGUST 2015
BY DEAN JONES
Frenchman says the former Hammers midfielder spoke in glowing terms about
his boyhood club when they were teammates at Lille
The Mirror

Dimitri Payet has revealed how Joe Cole was a driving force behind his move
to West Ham. The Frenchman will make his Premier League debut against
Arsenal on Sunday after completing a £10.7million switch from Marseille to
Upton Park this summer. The exciting midfielder, who also attracted
attention from Inter Milan, met ex-Hammer Cole while they were team-mates in
France at Lille three years ago, and the pair stayed in contact. Payet – who
created more goalscoring opportunities than anyone else in EUROPE last
season – now wants to emulate his English pal at Upton Park. He said: "Joe
Cole motivated me to sign for West Ham. "I met him when he was playing for
Lille and he spoke about the club in a very positive way. He told me it is a
great club and that it had so much ambition and wants to achieve things.
"Now, I need to go out and give 100 per cent if I want to go into the same
category as people like Joe Cole and Paolo Di Canio." The Hammers are
looking to bounce back from a Europa League exit to little-known Romanian
side Astra Giugiu on Thursday. But Payet added: "The real question is
whether the Europa League was really of use to us this season... I don't
think so."

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Slav won't park the bus!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Slaven Bilic has told the squad for the Arsenal game nobody should be
looking for a little rest during tomorrow's (Sun)"90 minutes at the
Emirates. The manager declared: 'Basically, we have to defend as a unit. You
cannot have two or three bodies staying up front, and resting, against
teams, especially with Arsenal. You cannot get away with it. "You have to be
as a unit, defend with numbers, attack with numbers.' But he appears to have
no intention of going to the Emirates and defending for the duration of the
game adding: "You can say: "we are going to defend", we are going to say in
England we will park the bus and hope you have that magic moment. "But we
have a team, when we are fit, that has got a lot of creative players."

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Moncur's CandH blog: Gunners v Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

So today we will be either trekking our way to North London or settling down
in front of Sky Sports for the opening game of the season probably with more
hope than expectation in our hearts.

And despite the uneven spread of results across pre-season I believe the
team is ready although we'll find out for the first time today exactly how
Slaven sees things.

I sat down in his office a few days back and we caught up on old times. It
was great to meet up again and I was struck again by his intelligence and
absolute love of the game.

Sunday's game could hardly be tougher. Arsenal are a terrific team and I
know that Slav has a great regard for Arsene Wenger but our man may just
have one or two surprises up his sleeve.

Let's remember though that we finished last season as one of – if not THE –
most out of form team in the Premier League and there's a confidence
building job to be done as well as a new style of play to be introduced.

Whatever some may think, we now have a better squad than we have had for
several years and I've got everything crossed that we can take the Gunners
by surprise.

First and foremost I'm a fan and always see the best side of things but I
hope I'm also a realist and the truth is we have one hell of a job on our
hands.

We are about 10/1 outsiders to win the game and it's around 5/1 for the draw
with the Arsenal well odds-on to win. I think those odds are a bit over the
top but I honestly can't tip us to win.

A draw would be fantastic but the main thing is that we go there and give
them a real game, put in a performance and come out with our heads held
high.

What we can't afford to happen is to get battered because that sets up a
mental reaction which is hard to shake off. I think Slav will have them in
good shape and that we'll give 'em a game.

But the fans have to give Slav a chance. It could take him a couple of years
to really put his mark on this team.

I'm sure we'll be safe and mid table but let's keep the expectancy levels
down a bit and give the man a real crack of the whip.

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Irons look to wreck Wenger's fast start hope
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has demanded his team shake off the "slow
starters" tag which plagued them last season when the team clash with the
Irons tomorrow.

They won just two of their opening eight games and the Frenchman, heading
into his 20th campaign as Arsenal boss, wants no repeats."

They were held to a point on four occasions and lost a couple before
hitting their stride around November so unsurprisingly the mood within the
Irons camp is that this is the best time of the season to travel to the
Emirates.

Slaven Bilic believes the Irons can acquit themselves well and will look to
capitalise on any psychological reserve given that history.

'I'm motivated to start well,' said Wenger, who will be without Jack
Wilshere, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky for Arsenal's opener against West
Ham.

"One of our targets is to start strongly, we've had good preparation and
that should give us much-needed confidence.

"The Premier League is a fight in every single game so we have to prepare
ourselves mentally for that and come out of the blocks straight away against
West Ham.

'Every game of pre-season went well, and I cannot remember a much better
preparation.

We won the FA Cup last year, we finished third in the league so our target
is very high – we want to win the Premier League.'

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Dicksie: "I know what the fans want"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Julian Dicks is living his ultimate dream and every moment of it is down to
Slaven Bilic. Dicksie had been looking for a major coaching job for a long
time before taking over the Irons Ladies team but the arrival of his room m
ate from his playing days changed everything.
Talkimg to London24.com he admitted: "The only time I would have got a job
back here is with someone like Slaven, Fortunately for me he ot the
manager's job, he gave me a call and said he wanted me to come back – it
really is a dream job for me." He brings an intimate knowledge of the fans'
requirements declaring: "I know what the fans want. I know what this club is
about and it is getting that over to the players. "Certain players already
know, it is about work-rate, about desire to play in the shirt that you are
wearing." "I have played under managers like John Lyall, who signed me,
Billy Bonds and Harry Redknapp and all of them knew what this club is all
about. They knew what the fans wanted and what they expected and that is
good football. "They know we are not going to win the Premier League, but
they want the team to work hard and play for the badge. "Morale is good
here, the players enjoy training, but it is not all about that, it is also
about doing that on the pitch for each other."

As we all enter the last season at the Boleyn, Dicksie said: "I have 11
years of memories here. There have been ups and downs, quite a lot of downs,
but this is a fantastic place and it is going to be sad to leave. "I have
been here for so long, but we have supporters who have been watching for 60
or 70 years and so we want it to be a memorable last season for them. "I
remember making my debut here against Everton. I had downs with my injuries,
but for me the most important thing about this place is the supporters.
Without them there isn't a football club and they stuck by me through thick
and thin. For me this place will always be in my heart."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Moncur "bitter" over son George's treatment
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

ClaretandHugh blogger John Moncur has spoken for the first time of his
bitterness at seeing son George leave the club. Moncur snr is delighted that
new boss Slaven Bilic has given so many youngsters a chance in pre-season
and culd be forgiven for believing things could have been so much different
for his by under the new boss. He believes his lad's career as an Iron came
to an end at the City Ground on Sunday January 5, 2014 when Sam Allardyce
crazily chose to play a team of kids and was on the end of a 5-0 thrashing
by Nottingham Forest.
Monc recalls his emotions perfectly and sums them up in three words: "I
was gutted. He played nearly a whole team of kids when only two or three
should have been involved."

Speaking exclsuively to ClaretandHugh he said: "I don't really need to say
any more than that – everybody in football will tell you the same and George
– after playing a not bad at all 45 minutes – saw his career as a Hammer
ended that afternoon. Yeah you can say I was bitter. "The boy had been at
West Ham since he was nine years old, his Dad had played for the club. His
life was centred on becoming a star with West Ham and it was ll over – just
like that. "He carried scars for a while and got a fresh chance with
Colchester where he scored 10 goals out of midfield last season and I really
hope and pray he has a career in the game. "They've got Blackpool this
afternoon where Allardyce's Number Two from West Ham, Neil McDonald is
manager so I hope he shows him how wrong it was to get rid of him.
"George wasn't alone in suffering – Danny Potts left but proving his own oin
point in America is Sebastian Lleteg – not good enough apparently but
performing brilliantly in the MLS." Moncs added: "George would come back to
the Irons like a shot and I just wish Slaven had been here last year because
had that been the case I think George would still be here with a Hammers
career ahead of him."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Benfica move on Jiminez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham's hopes of landing Raul Jimenez on loan over the weekend depend on
whether the Atletico Madird striker rejects a move from Benfica.
ClaretandHugh understands the Portuguese giants have offered the striker a
permanent deal and he is currently thinking over his two options. The
Hammers had appealed his work permit and he is now clear to come to Britain
but Benfica made their move on the 24 year old. We revealed exclusively
yesterday that other clubs had moved in on the front man and this morning we
were told Benfica had come in with the offer of a permanent deal. A Hammers
source said: "Benfica are all over him but it remains fifty fifty – we are
hopeful but things aren't as straightforward as they seemed."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"I spent too long at West Ham"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Freddie Sears fought a long losing battle to establish himself at the Irons
and now admits – TOO LONG! Five loan spells in four years tells its own
story and he now admits he'd have been better off moving on earlier and
getting match tim e. He told The Mail: "It didn't work out for me at West
Ham. It was my goal to play for them, but maybe my regret is not leaving
earlier and trying to get out and play more games. "It's a hard decision to
leave the club you support and the club that's local to you, but at the end
of the day you need to be playing football. I was 22 when I left; maybe I
could have left a bit earlier and played more but West Ham's a great club so
it wasn't easy."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com



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