David Moyes says he understands the frustrations of the West Ham United fans who left at half-time during Sunday’s 6-0 loss to Arsenal but insisted “the players have to take responsibility” for the result.
Moyes added he would “see if he can fix” the problems that caused West Ham to suffer their joint-highest home league defeat in the club’s history.
West Ham trailed 4-0 at the break after Arsenal scored three goals in a six-minute flurry at the end of the half, with thousands of home fans seen streaming out of the London Stadium before the half-time whistle.
“I’m a football supporter so I understand that (fans leaving at half-time), totally,” Moyes said to Sky Sports. “It’s one of those days which you don’t want to happen very often, and it happened today.”
William Saliba and Gabriel both found the net with headers from set-pieces, while Bukayo Saka scored from the penalty spot and Leandro Trossard struck in first-half stoppage time.
Saka added a fifth in the second half before Declan Rice marked his first Premier League appearance at West Ham since his £105million move to Arsenal last summer with a goal from distance.
“It’s not been like my teams in the past,” Moyes said of the three goals conceded at the end of the first half. “I’ll take a bit of time and look at it and see if I can fix it. I take the responsibility, I pick the team but the players have to take responsibility.
“If you’re not tackling, turning your back, not winning headers — all those things are part of your job.”
The result leaves West Ham, who beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates in December, eighth in the Premier League.
Moyes’ side return to action next Saturday with a trip to Nottingham Forest.
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The Briefing: West Ham 0 Arsenal 6: Rice’s stunning return, Saka’s 50th goal and Gabriel’s landmark
(Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
