David Moyes, the manager of West Ham United, did not mince his words when he criticized his team’s defensive performance against Arsenal. The Hammers suffered a devastating 6-0 defeat at the hands of Mikel Arteta’s side, with four goals conceded before halftime. Moyes labeled their defending as ‘atrocious’ and expressed his disbelief at what he witnessed on the pitch.
The defeat against Arsenal was a major blow for West Ham, who had been performing well and currently sit in the Premier League’s top eight. However, Moyes was not impressed with his team’s performance and made his feelings clear in a post-match interview with talkSPORT.
Moyes acknowledged that the competition in the Premier League is tough, but he highlighted the lack of defensive solidity displayed by his team. He stated that he couldn’t recall many of his West Ham teams playing as poorly defensively as they did against Arsenal. The manager emphasized the importance of consistency and mentioned West Ham’s recent finishes in sixth and seventh place in previous seasons.
The nature of West Ham’s defending particularly disappointed Moyes. He described their actions as ‘atrocious’ and criticized the lack of fight and commitment shown by the players. He pointed out that they needed to be stronger in set pieces and should not turn their backs on the opponent when they are about to shoot. Moyes expected better defensive performances from his players, especially considering their experience and professional upbringing.
The defeat against Arsenal not only left the fans disheartened but also hurt the players. Moyes believed that the squad he currently has is one of the best at West Ham, but their performance against Arsenal was unacceptable. He compared their current team to previous ones and stated that none of his previous teams would have allowed themselves to be beaten in such a manner. Moyes stressed the importance of picking themselves up, including both the players and the staff, and preparing for their next challenge.
The defeat against Arsenal was undoubtedly West Ham’s worst performance of the season. The team’s defensive shortcomings were exposed, and Moyes did not hold back in his evaluation of the players. It is now crucial for West Ham to regroup, learn from their mistakes, and bounce back stronger in their upcoming matches. The fans and the entire club will be expecting a much-improved defensive performance in the future.