Giroud starts. Walcott and Sanchez on the bench. Debuchy in for Bellerin,

West Ham giving debut to a 16 year old.

Cech; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud.

So Giroud and Ox get the nod over £140k per week Theo. Surprised by that...

Wonder where Bellerin is- he's not even on the bench.

Sounds like an injury to me. Sure he would have started.

I have a feeling the 16 year old will score against us

*sigh*

*massive sigh*

Been here a few times before.

*sigh*
Has anything changed? No

It's just like last season, & the 5 before that too.

What was that about Cech making all the difference?

He did for West Ham!

Not sure we had an attempt on target?

We won't until we get a decent striker who troubles defences by attacking them.

Was that West hams first free kick as well?

Won't do to be frustrated after the first half of the first game!

We usually start badly in the opening game.

Lets hope we turn it around in the second half.

Can see Alexis coming on if it stays 0-1.

He will do, just not in the way hoped. Don't let it be forgotten, we conceded only 13 goals in the last 20 games last season IIRC. The best defence across the league's, so a curious decision to change the goalkeeper when we had finally after years, found a real tight and classy unit ... when all fit.

Although tbf, Ospina may not have played anyway and so long as Walcott is on before the 71st minute we should get something out of this.

The thing is we are at home, we have had 10 shots on goal - only one of those has been on target. We've dominated possession and we are 1-0 down.

This isn't really an opening game issue, this regularly happens and has been like this since van Persie left.

Which is why we need a striker to bury the chances and work the keeper more often than we currently do.

Most people see this apart from Wenger.

No one getting in the area.

That's Giroud summed up when you really need a good strike you don't get one.

Dear God what a mess.

This really is a reality check. Everyone was getting too carried away with pre-season.

FFS...and bollards...awful opening game.