Slaven Bilic: Starting Reece Oxford away at Arsenal "was a risk"

Slaven Bilic has admitted that he is "very proud" of Reece Oxford after seeing the youngster blossom on his West Ham United debut.

The 16-year-old was thrown in at the deep end in the Hammers' opening Premier League fixture of the season.

Despite the daunting setting, Oxford helped his side to a shock 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium, but Bilic acknowledged after the game that he had taken a gamble with his team selection.

"It was a risk and it will be a risk because he is 16, but he has got something," the West Ham boss told Sky Sports News.

"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."

United academy product Oxford became the seventh-youngest player to appear in the Premier League.