Alan Shearer issues verdict on Arsenal vs West Ham decision as Jamie Redknapp makes 'blame' claim

Alan Shearer and Jamie Redknapp have weighed in on Arsenal’s home defeat to West Ham on Saturday. The Gunners were defeated 1-0 after conceding a Jarrod Bowen header and failing to recover, later receiving a red card when Myles Lewis-Skelly chopped down Mohamed Kudus.

The red card did not alter the game significantly, but it didn’t make things any easier for Arsenal as they attempted to break down a well-organised Hammers block.

The red card saw Lewis-Skelly struggle to deal with a pass under pressure, when he lost the ball, David Raya was 40 yards off his line, meaning Kudus would have had a clear opportunity to score from distance, given he was away and free, while Raya was in no man’s land.

Asked about the red card decision on Match of the Day, Alan Shearer said: “It was the right call, yeah. It was a call that VAR got right, referee didn’t give it, which okay, you can sort of understand but that sort of typified Arsenal today, getting caught on the ball.”

“But [William] Saliba’s not getting there, have a look at where [David] Raya is, the goalkeeper, so if Mohammed Kudus wins that ball and goes forward, which he will do, he can have a free shot at goal. So, correct, the referee gets sent to the screen and eventually, they got to the right decision. It was without a doubt a red card.”

As for the defeat itself, injuries have resulted in the Gunners looking all too blunt at the top end of the pitch, and it showed against the Hammers. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp said: “I think they've (Arsenal) been a tough watch. I've never really seen that fluidity, the movement, the excitement about their play. They've got sort of bogged down with set pieces and everything's about that. And it's been a tough watch for them, you know.

“And especially this year where they would have felt, you know, with Manchester City struggling so much, this is our opportunity. They're really not taking it. And I know they've got injuries, but you can see he's bringing Declan Rice off at the end of it. It was I don't know how many minutes to go, but he's bringing him off in the game.

“He can't find that rhythm in the team that he wants. He's got his own way of playing, and he's sort of trying to do it and he wants to win so much and he's getting a little bit too nervous. That transmits to the fans. He's got to try and stay calm and just get some rhythm going. Forget Liverpool right now, just make sure that they start getting some rhythm, winning some games.

“You said they got Nottingham Forest in midweek? I mean, I couldn't think of a tougher place to go right now, that's really difficult for them. They've got to find a way. A lot of it's been self inflicted, I think, when I look at Arsenal. It's very easy to blame everyone else, but the performances fundamentally haven't been good enough so far.”