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George Graham: 'Arsenal lack leadership'

Former Arsenal boss George Graham suggests that the Gunners lack leadership after losing 2-0 to West Ham United on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Former Arsenal manager George Graham has claimed that the Gunners lack leadership following their defeat to West Ham United on the opening day of the Premier League season.

The Hammers emerged 2-0 winners at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday following a lacklustre performance from the hosts.

Graham has claimed that too many of Arsenal's key players went missing against Slaven Bilic's side.

"I was really disappointed and very surprised by Arsenal," he told talkSPORT. "Their pre-season form had been excellent and I thought, 'right, let's go at West Ham.' But it amazed me that after the first 20 minutes, both sides had 50% possession - when does an away team come to the Emirates and get that sort of possession? Very, very rarely.

"I was really surprised Arsenal didn't press the ball and put West Ham under pressure, and maybe that just shows you the lack of leadership at the club. I didn't see anyone get a grip of the game.

"Arsenal have some brilliant players, but [Mesut] Ozil was very quiet - you never really saw him - and Santi Cazorla was on the left wing in the first half and he doesn't like playing there. You're looking for your big names, your big players, to perform, and they didn't do that yesterday."

Arsenal travel to Crystal Palace next Sunday.

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Steven Toplis
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