West Ham 1-0 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points

#1 Serious warning signs for the Gunners ahead

Unai Emery certainly has his work cut out with tougher fixtures to come in quick succession for Arsenal

After their 22-match unbeaten run was ended abruptly by Southampton last month, it's been a frustrating few weeks for Arsenal. Here presented a winnable game, one which would have provided them with some much-needed momentum with tricky fixtures to come in the next few weeks. Instead, they lost and did so in a worrying manner - the type that will pose questions for both Unai Emery and his players, not least given their immediate need to strengthen the squad.

West Ham may have edged out a slender win here, but they'll be the first to admit they were not on top form. Arsenal were wasteful with their opportunities and punished. As previously mentioned, they started quickly but failed to score in the first 20-25 minutes. This was a key turning point: once again failing to turn their dominance, or the opposition's slow start, into an advantageous position for themselves.

It's happened plenty of times already this season, as well as prior under Arsene Wenger. It'd be naive to suggest that everything can be changed under Emery in months. It takes time, but these types of performances highlight why that aforementioned run of favourable results papered over the cracks which are deep-lying within the club.

They don't have money to spend. Emery said as much earlier this week. It's clear to see they need reinforcements across the pitch, but especially in defence, where the players themselves are inconsistent and seemingly pick their moments to struggle.

Further forward, they either don't apply themselves regularly enough or do so in flurries. That's not good enough for a team with Arsenal's lofty ambitions. Emery's team selection was poor - he should have started Torreira and Mesut's absence is baffling too, after he trained fully this week.

With rivals Chelsea next, Manchester United in the FA Cup and Manchester City to come in the coming weeks, the immediate future appears bleak. If you're going to attract top players, you should be playing in the Champions League. No top-class transfer targets are going to join the Gunners, particularly if they are playing in the Europa League. Kalidou Koulibaly or Matthjis de Ligt? Julian Draxler or Isco? None of the players mentioned above would join Arsenal in their current state, because they are aware that better clubs are interested.

Winning away games like these is a start. Their record against the top six is poor, that much is a well-known fact - but it's against the lesser sides that they should be consistently delivering victories. Draws against Brighton, Crystal Palace and Wolves - as well as Manchester United and the aforementioned Southampton defeat - are all matches that the Gunners should have won this term. It's just not good enough.