Arsenal slumped to a demoralising 2-0 defeat in their Premier League opener with West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.

Cheikhou Kouyate headed the visitors into a 1-0 half-time lead shortly before the break in a half that the hosts dominated but failed to score.

Mauro Zarate then doubled the lead on 57 minutes to steepen the Gunners' task, and Slaven Bilic's side effectively closed out the game from there.

Here, Sports Mole analyses how the game was won in North London.

Match statistics

ARSENAL
Shots: 22
On target: 6
Possession: 62%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 12

WEST HAM
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 38%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 9

Was the result fair?

Ignore the statistics. Ignore the fact that Arsenal registered 22 shots and 62% of the ball. It would be grossly unfair on West Ham United to use stats in order to paint a picture of this afternoon's affair. The East Londoners fully deserved their victory. They kept their hosts at arms length, restricting them to very few clear chances throughout the contest - despite an abundance of shots. At the other end, United were clinical when they needed to be and that is how the game was won.

Arsenal's performance

This was not in the script. The pre-match talk had centered around the idea that Arsenal would pick up a stylish victory en route to strengthening suggestions that a Premier League title bid looms. Instead, Arsene Wenger's side showed why they still may be too lightweight to challenge heavyweights Chelsea for their crown.

It is only the Gunners' first of a 38-match league season, and titles are not won over the opening weekend, but the way in which Wenger's men dominated the first half and still conceded to trail 1-0 at the break is a concern. A big one.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went close with a ferocious first-time volley, while Santi Cazorla's lob landed on top of the net but neither could be really considered a chance in the traditional sense. Then, the sucker punch. Aaron Ramsey fouled the wonderful Dimitri Payet, who floated the free kick that Kouyate headed past a questionable Cech on 42 minutes.

Twitter was rife with jabs on Saturday evening as Arsenal fans mocked Chelsea after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off against Swansea City, with the Blues unable to turn to Cech to bail them out. Chelsea fans can afford to respond in kind now after the veteran Czech raced off his line to punch the ball but Kouyate beat him to it.

Arsenal started the second period brightly but, after going 2-0 behind to Zarate, it did not look like they could salvage anything. Such was their desperation, Wenger introduced Alexis Sanchez, who missed their entire pre-season after helping Chile to Copa America glory during the summer. Understandably, he looked a little rusty but Sanchez still spurned the hosts' best chance of the game by rolling a tame effort into the arms of Adrian late on.

Wenger and co will undoubtedly bounce back, but the journey to a first Premier league title since 2004 looks far more treacherous now than it did before kickoff.

West Ham's performance

"We have a big season ahead of us which starts on Sunday. We are going to be good in the Premier League. I am very confident about that."

That almost reads like it could have been said by any Premier League manager whose team finished inside the top six last term. In fact, they were the words of Slaven Bilic on Thursday as he seems determined to enjoy a fruitful first season as West Ham United manager. On the evidence of this performance, he may right.

The visitors restricted Arsenal to little to no goalscoring chances throughout a first 45 minutes that saw Bilic's men defend superbly. Debutant Angelo Ogbonna helped Winston Reid shackle Olivier Giroud, while at the other end it was another new boy in Payet who looked a constant menace to the hosts. In between both there was also 16-year-old Reece Oxford making his Premier League debut, and the youngster vindicated Bilic's faith in him with an assured midfield display.

Payet - who had spent his entire career in France prior to his £10m move from Marseille - did not look one bit fazed by English football and he won and delivered the free kick that led to Kouyate's opener shortly before the break. Afterwards, Payet continued to threaten but it was Zarate who arguably put the game beyond Arsenal when his 25-yard hit beat Cech on 57 minutes.

From there, West Ham did not look vulnerable in the slightest as they closed the game out with relative ease. Naturally, the hosts applied plenty of pressure in the final 20 minutes or so, but a goal never looked like coming. Their "big season" starts now.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Dimitri Payet: In his pre-match press conference, Wenger flagged his compatriot Payet as a potential danger. How right he was. The former Marseille winger was a thorn in Arsenal's side all afternoon. He helped establish the lead by floating in the free kick that led to the opener, and helped defend the advantage with some clever play throughout the second half. At £10m, the 28-year-old already looks something of a bargain for Bilic.

Biggest gaffe

It can only be Cech. Signing the 33-year-old from Chelsea had restored the feel-good factor in North London amid suggestions that a serious title bid lay on the horizon. However, he was arguably at fault for Arsenal's first concession of the season as he raced off his line to punch Payet's free kick, but Kouyate got there ahead of him.

Referee performance

Wenger may be desperate to point fingers at others as a factor in his side's abject defeat. If he does, then referee Martin Atkinson can feel relatively safe from criticism as the veteran official enjoyed a good game this afternoon. He booked four players in Mark Noble, James Tomkins, Ogbonna and Nacho Monreal and had no major decisions to make. Solid game.

What next?

Arsenal: Wenger and co travel to Crystal Palace next Sunday for their second successive London derby.

West Ham: United return to Upton Park next Saturday for the visit of Claudio Ranieri's Leicester City.