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Arsenal's season started in defeat as West Ham won their first Premier League game under Slaven Bilic. Keeper Petr Cech misjudged Dimitri Payet's free-kick to allow Cheikhou Kouyate to nod in the Hammers' first. And after the break Mauro Zarate finished from 20 yards after being gifted the ball by the Gunners defence. Arsenal, who controlled possession but were worryingly blunt in the final third, came closest when Aaron Ramsey hit the crossbar in the first half. Gunners fans, who left the Emirates Stadium in large numbers before the final whistle, will feel like they have seen all this before, not just in the way their side performed, but also in the familiarity of their starting line-up. Cech's arrival from Chelsea has been Wenger's only summer signing since last term's third-place finish, and it was an uncharacteristic display from the experienced keeper. The 33-year-old was not only at fault for West Ham's opener, but was wrong-footed by Zarate's strike, although he received little help from his defence as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin combined to give the ball away on the edge of their own area. Olivier Giroud frequently looked isolated up front, which will no doubt increase the hope among Arsenal supporters that a reported deal for Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema can be completed. Bilic, 46, replaced Sam Allardyce this summer and was handed a remit of getting the east London club playing 'the West Ham way' - a brand of football based around an attacking and entertaining approach. It is perhaps too early to assess whether the Croat will impart that ethos upon his players. Instead, his side were characteristic of the battling performances Hammers fans were accustomed to from Bilic during his spell as a defender with the club from 1996 to 1997. Reece Oxford, who became his side's youngest ever Premier League player at the age of 16 years and 237 days, epitomised West Ham's fighting spirit, screening his defence superbly from midfield. The Hammers surrendered 62% possession to the hosts, but were relatively untroubled as Arsenal put just six of their 22 shots on target.